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Billionaires: free to romp or responsible to fellow citizens?

Should a multi-billionaire settle for 2 jets instead of 3, 7 homes instead of 10 etc?

  • Yes (if it means serving the greater good)

    Votes: 10 34.5%

  • No (no one has the right to decide how much wealth is too much)

    Votes: 19 65.5%
  • Total voters
    29
LesGovt said:
Wow! What happened to our friendly discussion? Where in the world did I say that I don't care about suffering. Sheesh! All I said is that I give to relieve suffering in Africa, but my main focus is on the U.S. I cannot take care of the world nor can the United States. I know you have seen our deficit and our debt and surely you agree with me on this. I have taken many political tests or quizes and I always find that I am a conservative.
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O.K., that's fine, we can agree on patriotism then.

However this is what you said:

LesGovt said:
Would it be safe to say that you are far left of conservative?
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Followed by:

LesGovt said:
Suffering will always be part of the world
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To this I will now respond that I too have taken several quizzes and consistently find that I am a centrist (not far left of conservative).

Additionally, I hope you don't think I was implying that you are solely responsible for all the suffering in the world.

Finally, while I will admit that there will always be suffering of some kind in the world, I refuse to give up on trying to ease that suffering.
 
MusicAdventurer said:
O.K., that's fine, we can agree on patriotism then.

However this is what you said:



Followed by:



To this I will now respond that I too have taken several quizzes and consistently find that I am a centrist (not far left of conservative).

Additionally, I hope you don't think I was implying that you are solely responsible for all the suffering in the world.

Finally, while I will admit that there will always be suffering of some kind in the world, I refuse to give up on trying to ease that suffering.
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In the case you cite above, I did not separate your quotes and respond inbetween. The "far left of conservative" and the "suffering" comment had nothing to do with each other, but simply answering the order of your comments.

I did not think you were saying that I was responsible for any suffering.

As for easing the suffering of the world, you do realize that means every single country in the world. To think you can make any significant impact in more than one or two places is probably incorrect; unless, of course, you are a billionaire like Bill Gates and, just as he has, you too could assist in all sorts of countries. And, you may have made more than I have so you might be capable of providing charity to more countries that I am able to. I prefer to target my charity and not spend a pittance here or a pittance there, as that is all it would be for me if I were to attempt to ease the suffering of the world. Sorry, but caring is not as important to me as actual solutions. Providing nets to keep pests out of living quarters to prevent malaria is much more important to me than saying I care for the people in Bangladesh who are suffering.
 
MusicAdventurer said:
To this I will now respond that I too have taken several quizzes and consistently find that I am a centrist (not far left of conservative).
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I will not doubt you, but the things you are saying here is far closer to what liberals say than conservatives. You not hiding behind the centrist label to protect yourself from criticism, are you? No need to answer. I'm just yanking your chain.
 
LesGovt said:
In the case you cite above, I did not separate your quotes and respond inbetween. The "far left of conservative" and the "suffering" comment had nothing to do with each other, but simply answering the order of your comments.

I did not think you were saying that I was responsible for any suffering.
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Fair enough

LesGovt said:
As for easing the suffering of the world, you do realize that means every single country in the world. To think you can make any significant impact in more than one or two places is probably incorrect; unless, of course, you are a billionaire like Bill Gates and, just as he has, you too could assist in all sorts of countries. And, you may have made more than I have so you might be capable of providing charity to more countries that I am able to. I prefer to target my charity and not spend a pittance here or a pittance there, as that is all it would be for me if I were to attempt to ease the suffering of the world. Sorry, but caring is not as important to me as actual solutions.
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We are in agreement then
 
MusicAdventurer said:
Fair enough

We are in agreement then
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What? Holy moly! I am beginning to believe that centrist means that if a liberal says something, the centrist says, "I agree with that." If a conservative then says the opposite, the centrist says, "I agree with that."

Please don't take offense at this, but you confuse me as to where you really stand on issues. This could be my fault for not understanding, but....

Help me out here. If I provided a list of items, and answered whether I am for or against each issue, would you put your yes or no next to mine? You don't have to do this, but I am just trying to get to understand what it is you truly believe.

A few examples of the questions might be:

Do you believe that vouchers to pay for k-12 education would provide for more competition if it included public, charter, private and parochial schools?
Is competition a good thing?
Do you support the concept of "gay marriages?"
 
MusicAdventurer said:
The idea here is based on principle, not necessarily reality. In this situation, lets say that the rich could purchase whatever they wanted without paying taxes on them (which may happen in reality through tax right offs). Should income tax increase to the point that the multi-billionaire is forced to sell a few homes, private jets etc. for the greater good of the community?
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What's a tax "right" off?
 
ReverendHellh0und said:
What's a tax "right" off?
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Don't be cute. You know what he meant and I'll bet you have made an error in typing too. I know that I have had to correct some of my postings becasue I entered the same sounding word instead of the correct one, i.e. their for there or vice versa.
 
LesGovt said:
What? Holy moly! I am beginning to believe that centrist means that if a liberal says something, the centrist says, "I agree with that." If a conservative then says the opposite, the centrist says, "I agree with that."

Please don't take offense at this, but you confuse me as to where you really stand on issues. This could be my fault for not understanding, but....

Help me out here. If I provided a list of items, and answered whether I am for or against each issue, would you put your yes or no next to mine? You don't have to do this, but I am just trying to get to understand what it is you truly believe.

A few examples of the questions might be:

Do you believe that vouchers to pay for k-12 education would provide for more competition if it included public, charter, private and parochial schools?
Is competition a good thing?
Do you support the concept of "gay marriages?"
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I don't like your insults, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt one more time .. I guess .. cuz I'm nice like that :)

My answer is yes to all of your questions

Throw some more questions at me if you like :) .. you may find we have more in common than you think :)

Oh .. and thanks for dealing with that wacko in the above post
 
MusicAdventurer said:
I don't like your insults, but I'll give you the benefit of the doubt one more time .. I guess .. cuz I'm nice like that :)

My answer is yes to all of your questions

Throw some more questions at me if you like :) .. you may find we have more in common than you think :)

Oh .. and thanks for dealing with that wacko in the above post
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Actually, I was not trying to insult; although, I see why you would think so. It was more of just how I observe you. I apologize.

I am the first Y or N/then you

Do you believe that vouchers to pay for k-12 education would provide for more competition if it included public, charter, private and parochial schools? Y/Y
Is competition a good thing? Y/Y
Do you support the concept of "gay marriages?" N/Y
We should privatize SS - Y/
We should stop all 3rd payers (companies and govt) for healthcare insurance - Y/
Banning lightbulbs is not free enterprise and is not a good idea - Y/
The Bush tax cuts were taxes for the wealthy - N/
We should close down the Dept of Education - Y/
Abortion is morally wrong - Y/
It is proven that there is global warming and that it is man-made - N/
Support President Obama's healthcare plan - N/
If the debt ceiling is not lifted, it will be the fault of the GOP - N/
Drilling for oil and gas should be allowed in many more places - Y/
There are far too many Federal regulations - Y/
If we had no taxes on companies, we would not have an unemployment problem - Y/
The tax code should be gutted and replaced with a flat tax - Y/
The tax code should be gutted and replaced with a Natl Sales Tax - N/

Want more? :lol: Maybe we should get a liberal to answer to give the other end of the spectrum.
 
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evanescence said:
Most of the super wealthy are not patriots, but are international citizens. They have no real allegiance to the United States. It's an elitist class.
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who exactly comes to mind. Murdoch and Soros are obvious examples.
 
evanescence said:
Most of the super wealthy are not patriots, but are international citizens. They have no real allegiance to the United States. It's an elitist class.
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Is this just your opinion?
 
everyone should be free to romp. he has no more or less right to it than I.
 
TurtleDude said:
who exactly comes to mind. Murdoch and Soros are obvious examples.
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Those as well as the Rothchild, Vanderbilt, Windsor, Du Pont, Rockefeller, Astor, etc. There are others.

Here's a lovely quote from Prince Phillip:

"If I were reincarnated I would wish to be returned to earth as a killer virus to lower human population levels." — Prince Phillip



Bill Gates is also a major proponent of reducing the population.
 
If I were a billionaire, I would live a middle class life. I'd spend the rest of my days helping others. I went to a college that had a lot of kids that came from old money. Many of them turned out to be pretentious, ostentatious asses. I'd rather have a crowded funeral than a crowded bank account so money really isn't that important to me as long as I can live a comfortable lifestyle and support those I love. So to answer the question, I would feel a need to help others through my good fortune. However, to each his/her own. I wouldn't tell a billionaire they are obligated to cut things from their lifestyle.

Having money's not everything, but not having it is.
 
Helvidius said:
If I were a billionaire, I would live a middle class life. I'd spend the rest of my days helping others. I went to a college that had a lot of kids that came from old money. Many of them turned out to be pretentious, ostentatious asses. I'd rather have a crowded funeral than a crowded bank account so money really isn't that important to me as long as I can live a comfortable lifestyle and support those I love. So to answer the question, I would feel a need to help others through my good fortune. However, to each his/her own. I wouldn't tell a billionaire they are obligated to cut things from their lifestyle.

Having money's not everything, but not having it is.
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i would live as lavishly as i wanted to, and also help others with my good fortune.
 
MusicAdventurer said:
Setting aside all that envy/jealousy gobbledygook ... do you understand how hoarding resources affects others that need those resources?
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How is buying 20 homes and 7 jets, hoarding resources?
 
MusicAdventurer said:
I agree .. however, if progressive taxes without loopholes means that some ridiculously wealthy have to settle for one or two less homes or own a smaller private jet .. I won't complain
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You won't complain. How nice. So you are 100% for redistribution of wealth.
 
evanescence said:
Those as well as the Rothchild, Vanderbilt, Windsor, Du Pont, Rockefeller, Astor, etc. There are others.

Here's a lovely quote from Prince Phillip:

"If I were reincarnated I would wish to be returned to earth as a killer virus to lower human population levels." — Prince Phillip



Bill Gates is also a major proponent of reducing the population.
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Dude, the topic is about taxes...not depopulation.
 
American said:
How is buying 20 homes and 7 jets, hoarding resources?
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Many have yet to learn the lesson of the pencil. All one needs to do here is exchange pencil for jet or pencil for home.

 
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