There are a myriad of news articles here on Lemmy that display the abhorrent influence billionaires have on our society (especially the US, where I reside). I consistently read comments where the posters appear hopeless and despondent of the situation, while others jokingly refer to the guillotine.
As for myself, I have recently found myself with a lot of free time on my hands after being laid off and want to gather ideas on what would be the best hypothetical route to solve this issue. Let me be clear: These are only THEORETICAL IDEAS and I do not condone any illegal activity.
Historical precedent: While I am not intimately familiar with the inner workings of the Occupy Movement, I do know that they were constantly attacked as being unorganized and lacking structure. It would be wise to not fall into the same pitfalls if those were accurate assessments.
Logical formulation: The foundations of the key points of the movement must be logically sound to withstand any external (and internal for that matter) scrutiny.
Motto: If a motto or slogan is chosen, it must be unambiguous so that attacks are directed to the movement, not the motto itself.
I am also aware that most people can’t spare any time to these kind of movements. Similar to the Texas seceding news, many commentators have noted that most Texans are living paycheck to paycheck and wouldn’t be able to dedicate any time to their cause. I would understand that would be same for this cause as well. However, since I have the time right now, I only ask for your ideas.
Broad issues: High cost of living (mortgages, rent, groceries, etc.) Inflation Homelessness
Philosophical underpinnings: Is there a Threshold of Greed? If so, what is too much wealth?
Possible means of reductions: Voluntary donation or renunciation of wealth past a certain point (highly unlikely) Taxation (also unlikely) Seizing assets (illegal and would most likely set a poor precedent)
It might also to organize an open database of billionaires with their respective fields (Forbes is closed) to help organize a boycott of some sort Though I suspect their fingers are in everything and it would be highly impractical.
Sorry for the word diarrhea. What are your thoughts?
Tax any loans using stocks as collateral. If they try to hide their wealth through an LLC, subject that LLC to a high wealth/business tax as well. Go full scorched earth on all billionaires.
Separate them from their heads. And wealth.
Behead them!
The last step into the guillotine generally does the trick.
Wouldn’t the wealth necessarily just be distributed to their heirs?
Heirs are finite and have a shelf life. Guillotines are reusable.
That’s it.
Extinguish the bloodline, cut heads until there’s no hoarder, tax evading billionare.
That’s why the French revolution was so… Thorough
Step 1: Slay the dragon.
Step 2: Redistribute its mountain of gold back into the community.
Easy to say “re-distribute”, harder than hell to do equitably and fairly.
No. It really, really isn’t. Stop allowing those same billionaire dragons dictate the narrative. The reason wealth redistribution seems so fraught with issues is that billionaires pay to spread that falsehood.
Bezos didn’t buy the WaPo because he likes to read the news.
While true, what’s your point? Being difficult doesn’t mean we shouldn’t do it.
I like that thinking.
A wealth tax does seem warranted for billionaires. I don’t like the idea of taxing something inert but honestly that’s how they make money. They borrow against thousands of shares at a time and pay zero taxes on the loan.
The wealth tax has never sat well with me either. We are talking about taxing someone based on the value of an asset that they would need to collateralize or liquidate to pay the tax bill. That doesn’t seem right or fair to me.
On the other hand, I read today about Trader Joe’s and their suit against the NLRB and I’ve changed my mind. They engaged in a bunch of shady union-busting behavior, they got caught, and now they’re arguing the NLRB is unconstitutional. Meanwhile, the NLRB has been wielding this power for like 90 years.
Where we’re at is, obscenely wealthy people who break the law are essentially giving the government the finger and saying they should be allowed to do it. They’re acting as if they believe they are powerful enough that they are no longer subject to laws. Trump and Musk are no different. I’m sure there are plenty more.
It used to be people like that were mostly normal. They would make contributions, get their way most of the time, get some pushback when they went too far, maybe kicked and screamed a little bit, but they would eventually get in line.
Now, they simply say the rules are bullshit and they shouldn’t have to follow them anymore. These people are undermining our government and subverting the rule of law. It’s time they get kicked in the teeth.
They derive their power from wealth. Although our government has plenty of problems, it’s still ours if we can hold onto it. It’s time to make a statement to anyone who dares threaten that. FAFO. I’m all for taxing these fuckers.
When the billionaires themselves are telling us to tax the crap out of them then why aren’t we?
Don’t have time for a longer post right now. But here’s my question about the wealth tax -
Trickle down BS and Invisible Hand BS all say that if people have wealth, they WILL reinvest it. That’s the correct thing to do.
When you drive a car, the correct thing to do is drive safely and at a logical speed. If you do irrational driving, you get a ticket.
So why isn’t it logical that if you are participating in a capitalist economy, and not doing the correct thing of constantly reinvesting your money, then the govt should fine you for it?
Wealth shouldn’t just sit around and do nothing, specially in foreign bank accounts. If it does, it should be fined… or taxed.
Also land ownership is literally extracting money from having arbitrarily exclusive access to an “inert” ressource.
An upper income cap for individuals AND corporations. $250 million for individuals, $250 billion for corps. 90% taxes on revenue over $1 million. Tax idle stock at 1% per share, per quarter.
Probably one of the most actionable steps so far.
How do you overcome corporations basing themselves in tax minimum countries, like Apple and Google.
As well as rich individuals who base their trusts in zero tax inheritance countries.
Rich people have lots of money to “invest” in accountants and lawyers to work around rules like this.
Eat them
I bet Jeff Bezos tastes like warm dog shit
Public service isn’t always fun.
That’s a testable hypothesis.
2nd amendment
Do it yourself, coward
Through force.
The system is well and truly rigged, that there is no option for “democratic” means to counter it.
Education. Until the masses realize the tricks being used on them, we can redistribute all we want and it will still all funnel up to the top again.
We’ve tried that.
They still decided horse dewormer was a better idea than masks.
Yeah and it worked, now the rug has been pulled from schools for a long time.
There was significant mis-information, which caused that uneducated choice. People didn’t all randomly come up with it by themselves. Blame the con-artist, not the victim of the confidence trickery.
The horse was led to water many times and refused to drink.
No, they didn’t all come up with it on their own, but they individually rejected information to the contrary.
Sounds like victim blaming to me. Have a great day.
If we’re using history as a metric…
Guillotines.
Behead them!
we need to change the parameters of success.
the current “world’s richest persons” list is actually the “world’s greediest persons” list. we need to all start calling it exactly that. we need to, as society, understand that having those levels of wealth is more a symptom of a sick and twisted mind rather than a consequence of “business acumen”.
the world’s richest persons list should be recalibrated to what percentage of one’s income has been given away in taxes and donations. think about it, if you can indulge in all your necessities, comforts, and luxuries on 10% of your income and still afford to give away the other 90%, are you not 9 times “richer” than you need to be?
separately, any company that turns an obscene profit has done so only by overcharging their customers. these companies should be vilified therefore, and not celebrated.
So true. And a national change in perspective is definitely achievable.
I doubt it is really greed. They are competitive. It’s a different driver.
Yes, yes. Guillotines. Come on, do you really think that could happen? I just don’t think it is realistic.
After the recent news of several billionaires asking to be taxed more that seems like the most realistic and viable to redistribute some of the wealth. I think you could probably get unions and democrats (leverage ALL existing organizations) to help lobby for some sort of “patriotic wealth tax” or however you wish to spin it. Start small to get it established and then keep lobbying to increase it.
I would recommend staring with a tax on income (ANY income with NO deductions) over $1M/year, maybe 10%. And then tax anyone’s assets over $1bn at 2% every 5 years. Then keep changing those numbers to increase the revenue.
I would recommend staring with a tax on income (ANY income with NO deductions) over $1M/year, maybe 10%.
Well it’s already 37%, so 10% wouldn’t be nearly enough. I’d suggest more like 80%, and since the progressive brackets are what they are you could add another at 5M with 99% tax.
Thank you for a thought-out response.
