• tomkatt@lemmy.world
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    18 hours ago

    Being wealthy just means you don’t need to overly worry about money. I’m wealthy, but I hate the system and how the world is doing.

    This. I make low six figures and support myself and my spouse on a single income. We’ve had to be careful in choosing where to live, how much house to buy and all that. I’m not baller, but I’m comfortable. Amenities are fine and I pay my bills without much thought. I’m working toward retirement.

    That’s a reasonable amount of wealth for most. The problem is there are people with so much wealth it provides them the means to manipulate society in sweeping gestures.

    • Don’t like the news? buy the media outlet.
    • Want unfairly low taxes? Bribe a politician or 50 of them. (Oh, sorry, “lobby” them)
    • Politician is against you? Fully fund their opponent’s campaign and now they owe you.
    • Another company competing with you? Buy them.
    • etc.

    Also, while insider trading is illegal, someone with this much wealth, influence, and power can’t help but have inside information just for existing in the circles they do, and wealth leads to greater wealth simply because there’s no way to regulate it reasonably.

    • Dyskolos@lemmy.zip
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      17 hours ago

      Exactly. I retired in my 20s and couldn’t complain. But compared to those that fuck everything up, I’m as far away from them as the next homeless guy.

      When I grew up, having a million was considered rich beyond imagination. Kinda. Nowadays it would probably not even be enough.

      And you’re right. It’s not just their money, it’s what they do with it. Control, scheme, manipulate, and whatnot…