Evan
@evangreenberg
I don’t know how many Marxist/Dem Socialists we have on FC, but there’s a convo I want to have (rather in person but): It’s presented by Bernie/Zoran/etc that there needs to be zero billionaires because their wealth should be redistributed. I heard someone else say “what if everyone was a billionaire?” I don’t think either are going to happen exactly (no billionaires vs all billionaires), but the decision sets if you make one or the other as the GOAL is fascinating, and I’d love to have that convo with people of many different viewpoints!
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butu
@butu
If everyone became a billionaire, money would become worthless. There are enough examples of bad governments destroying their currency and turning their citizens into billionaires through hyperinflation, they will become billionaires but need to burn the currency to keep warm.
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Evan
@evangreenberg
Why does it have to be hyperinflation. When I say “everyone is a billionaire,” I mean it somewhat literally and somewhat figuratively. That is to say that having more money than someone else doesn’t actually buy you much more, like it does today. The pie is so big, that everyone has what they need and more
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butu
@butu
hyperinflation is the difference between reality and utopia in this case in my opinion. I understand that there is more then enough money for everyone on planet earth but an even distribution of wealth like how you mention will never become reality without hyperinflation (thus making money worthless) imo. A better world starts with yourself, if everyone would share more then we would already be on the right path
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Evan
@evangreenberg
I think it’s a question of costs vs. inflation. In your scenario, money hyperinflates and everything becomes unaffordable. In my scenario, everything is affordable.
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butu
@butu
In my opinion your scenario is an utopia we (as mankind) will never reach. “My scenario” is what history has proven to be the instrument although the effect is not what you intend. Zimbabwe went though hyperinflation. They had to bring bank notes with higher and higher values. They finally gave up when they had to make the 100 Trillion Dollar bill. It was worth about $150 U.S. dollars. Everyone was/is a billionaire/trillionaire in Zimbabwe. Other examples are Germany following ww1 & Venezuela. How do you see your scenario ever being reached? Even if we don’t take in the astronomical increase in money supply. (Generally a factor causing inflation)
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Evan
@evangreenberg
One thing is discovering a source of cheap, abundant energy. However, I’m not necessarily saying that we will reach utopia. What I’m saying is that we are on the road to a choice: Door A: aim for “utopia” and see how close we can get Door B: redistribute the current pie and not try to grow it further What door do you want to choose and what decision set will you have once you step through?
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