What are the best steps to reduce the wealth of billionaires?
What are the best steps to reduce the wealth of billionaires?
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?
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The one i can think of and will work if everyone wasn't so wimpy is boycotting everything they sell . Like never buying anything from amazon even if the alternative costs you 10x , and not buying teslas even if they are the best cars around (they aren't) etc. etc . In conclusion if we refused to buy anything any billionaire is selling their stock will crash and burn and i don't think any of them have enough braincells at this point to turn it around.
Definitely one of those ideas that would 100% work in theory but never in practice. The concept of "voting with your dollar" is still a powerful tool because it doesn't need to be complete, just enough to hurt the industry.
As Cory Doctrow says, voting with your dollar is a fixed game because he who has the most dollars wins. Not to discourage it, though, because that would be pretty hypocritical to publicly condem the same store that you shop at, for example.
The stark reality is regardless of how vigilant you are in not supporting billionaires, you need to survive, and the money you spend achieving that will inevitably go to them in some amount.
I think the most realistic thing people can do is pressure politicians to change the legislature so that billionaires can't even exist. Sadly, the billionaires buy the politicians. When we have an answer to solving that issue, then maybe we can see real change as a society, but the longer we wait, the harder it is to force the change, and the elites become an ever increasing power, while the working class inversely loses power.