My take? The issue I have with the mega rich is that they (generalization here) aren’t playing by the same rules as you or I. I don’t have an issue, with not paying all of your employees 6 figures. Different jobs, skills, training, and capabilities are (and should be) worth different amounts of money. It’s important that people with good ideas, or business capabilities have avenues of expanding, bettering themselves, and enjoying the fruits of their labor.
When you pay money to write rules that are favorable to you, you become the problem. Money in politics is the problem. Imo, that has enabled all of this. Don’t have good healthcare? Likely it was lobbied for because someone wanted more money. Stuck in prison? Oh yeah, money in politics got you there. Minimum wage hasn’t kept up with inflation? Something, something trickledown-bullshit, money in politics. Kids killed in school constantly? Oh you know…FUCKING MONEY IN POLITICS.
Favorable can be lobbying against health & safety or environmental regulations because it impacts your bottom line. It is donating to political campaigns for tax cuts (you know, fucking bribery). It’s blocking minimum wage hikes to secure your bottom line.
All of that said, how people sleep at night with absurd amounts of money and minimal charity is disgusting. I don’t fault someone for enjoying an oppulant lifestyle…I do fault someone for Scrooge McDucking and hoarding cash…for what? Bragging rights? Power?
TLDR: be gaddamn ethical about it.
I’m with you, I don’t get the draw - I’m not a fan of the clutter it would cause but whatever floats their boat, it’s not sinking mine :P.
I feel like it’s the same as collecting shoes or purses - fashion/collecting just of something else. The abe meme is spot on.