Election Year or Fear!

[MadAmster]

I find it frightening when I look at how large the increase in the wealth of the top 5% or so over the last 40 years compared to the rest of us. In the past 5 years the gap has grown enormously. Those rich folk have concluded that their immense wealth allows them to influence/own politicians and/or enter politics themselves. Examples? Putin has got exceedingly rich down the years, Trump, despite his many business failures, has managed to remain monied. Musk thought he'd got there without even having to go through an election, millionaires and billionaires the world over exert too great an influence on political policy.

As most of you have known for a while, I am not a fan of that system.

[Andy_Faber]

I find it frightening when I look at how large the increase in the wealth of the top 5% or so over the last 40 years compared to the rest of us. In the past 5 years the gap has grown enormously. Those rich folk have concluded that their immense wealth allows them to influence/own politicians and/or enter politics themselves. Examples? Putin has got exceedingly rich down the years, Trump, despite his many business failures, has managed to remain monied. Musk thought he'd got there without even having to go through an election, millionaires and billionaires the world over exert too great an influence on political policy.

As most of you have known for a while, I am not a fan of that system.

Do you mean the system of acquiring wealth or the system of being in the 'wealth club' where backs are scratched, folk are leaned on and rules are overlooked. I agree on the latter but not the former because the former drives ambition

[swaledale]

Do you mean the system of acquiring wealth or the system of being in the 'wealth club' where backs are scratched, folk are leaned on and rules are overlooked. I agree on the latter but not the former because the former drives ambition

I think he means the system whereby the accumulation of excessive wealth with the resultant stark inequalities.

That system is currently the root cause of much of the dissatisfaction today. Few people would say that earning more through hard work is wrong, but when those that have also worked for and contributed to the acquisition of that wealth don't share in the success to a reasonable extent, then society as we know it is doomed.

[ramAnag]

I think he means the system whereby the accumulation of excessive wealth with the resultant stark inequalities.

That system is currently the root cause of much of the dissatisfaction today. Few people would say that earning more through hard work is wrong, but when those that have also worked for and contributed to the acquisition of that wealth don't share in the success to a reasonable extent, then society as we know it is doomed.

Excellent point imo. Of course MA will answer for himself, but I would agree entirely with the second paragraph above and also suggest that AF may be confusing ambition and greed.
Of course to have the ambition to do as well as one can in order to provide for oneself and one?s family is laudable. To chase excessive wealth for the benefit of ego is just greed and for excessive wealth to equate to power and privilege, just wrong.