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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rileybeans
@rileybeans
it's about power imbalance. one billion dollars is too much wealth in the hands of a select few who little more than their best to attain more wealth or keep the wealth they have for themselves while others suffer. in other words: there are no good billionaires.
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Evan
@evangreenberg
But what if everyone was a billionaire?
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rileybeans
@rileybeans
then the questions are: does everyone have one billion dollars at all times? in their bank account or held up in a company? do some people have multiple billions? if not, that's the same as everyone having one dollar. still the question lies in power, fear, scarcity. giving everyone a billion isn't a serious economic model.
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Evan
@evangreenberg
Everyone won’t be given anything, but there are technological advancements that are likely only possible via capitalism that could make it feel like everyone is a billionaire and has everything they need. Is the point to have a particular system or for everyone to have what they need (and more perhaps)?
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rileybeans
@rileybeans
these are much better questions to ask than the ones above. imo everyone should have what they need *and* live without fear or looming power imbalance
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Joe
@jringenberg
I appreciate the point about power imbalance. The issue isn’t with a certain number of dollars, but with one person commanding more resources than (fuzzy definition) the combined community around them. Seems like that leads to or can only result from exploitation.
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Evan
@evangreenberg
It’s ok if some people have “more” as long as everyone has “enough”
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