this post was submitted on 28 Jan 2024
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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?

(page 3) 40 comments
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[–] intensely_human@lemm.ee 2 points 10 months ago (6 children)

Focus on making the poor people richer instead. Then you’ll realize things are going pretty good.

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[–] GilgameshCatBeard@lemmy.ca 2 points 10 months ago
[–] Asudox@lemmy.world 1 points 10 months ago

Locking as the reports for the comments in this post are just enormous.

[–] jerrythegenius@lemmy.world 0 points 10 months ago

Do it yourself, coward

[–] Modern_medicine_isnt@lemmy.world 0 points 10 months ago (1 children)

I don't think movements succeed based on being organized. I think the core factor is people having nothing to lose.

[–] DecarbonatedOdes@lemmy.one 1 points 10 months ago

That could be true. I'm only repeating what I heard en mass during the Occupy Protests of the perceived reason of failure.

[–] Landmammals@lemmy.world -1 points 10 months ago

Execute all the billionaires, starting at the top. Continue until the desired number of billionaires is reached.

Hypothetically.

[–] Pistcow@lemm.ee -1 points 10 months ago (1 children)
[–] otp@sh.itjust.works 1 points 10 months ago

The Rupert's Land Act?

[–] sagrotan@lemmy.world -2 points 10 months ago

Guillotines. No, seriously: Long process. First step is ignoring them. Totally and ultimately. Second step: Tax 'em. You wanna live in a civilized environment - you pay. For others. You flee ? Wanted list. Losing citizenship. Step three: If it doesn't pay taxes, it pays with property. In short: hold them accountable, to the end. And when they lived for a few months on their super yacht in international waters, baking and shaking, they'll get miserable. There's a legitimate chance they buy their own country and then they walked into the trap. Imagine that: billionaires that are forced to deal with all the other ego junkies and maniacs: 'dis gon be gud!

[–] Sagifurius@lemm.ee -4 points 10 months ago (1 children)

They wouldn't exist if the currency wasn't worthless, maybe linking cash to reality again would fix it? The real terms richest man corrected, even today, was a Roman so just get us back on gold.

[–] karashta@kbin.social 1 points 10 months ago

The issue isn't the amount of money in circulation. Who do you think controls the prices that thereby makes your money worth less? It's not demand from the consumer, it's greed from the seller. Going back on a peg to gold would just mean less poor people have even less money.

It also cripples the functioning of the federal government by creating a financial restraint. The only real constraint on the US federal government and those like it is resources. Granted, everyone still pushes the false narrative that the federal government needs to collect the money it creates before spending it and barely anyone questions this. Governments suspended the gold standard when they wanted to anyway: see FDR's actions during WW2 as an example.

The real issue is the absolute greed and psychopathic lust for power of the elite. We need to take back our own governments and tax these people out of their wealth and thereby reduce their power and influence.

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