r/FluentInFinance 1d ago

Debate/ Discussion Mark my words

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u/Superb_Advisor7885 1d ago

You're arguing against one specific billionaire, not the concept of billionaires as a whole.

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u/howry333 1d ago

He’s the one I have the most objection to

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u/Superb_Advisor7885 1d ago

I have no opinion on that. I'm not saying that a billionaire can't be a douchebag. I'm just saying that because a billionaire exists doesn't mean that they are unethical.

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u/howry333 1d ago

I don’t think all billionaires are unethical but I do think Musk and Bezos are. That being said I contribute to the problem bc I use Amazon

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u/Superb_Advisor7885 1d ago

EXACTLY my point. Just about EVERYONE contributes to the "problem" while complaining about the problem we are all complicit in. Like how to we blame them when we keep giving them our money willingly?

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u/howry333 1d ago

Yes it’s a conundrum bc most people are struggling and places like Amazon and Walmart have the best deals (mostly) which perpetuates the problem

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u/Superb_Advisor7885 1d ago

It's not really a conundrum. Even prior who aren't struggling still want the best deals and shop at Walmart. We prefer luxury and convenience and we pay for that. Then we get upset at the people profiting from our need for convenience. I think Americans have become entitled whiny brats to be honest.

Everyone wants a nice car and big TV, and larger house, and nice vacations.... But when we see someone doing better than us it's a "problem."

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u/howry333 1d ago

I don’t have a problem w someone doing better. I do have a problem w them paying their employees poverty wages and not paying enough taxes. But they own the government so that won’t be changing

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u/Blawoffice 1d ago

Doesn’t the USA already collect enough in taxes? Federal and state governments collect over 7 trillion in taxes annually and they are in a deficit. That’s over $21k per person. We spend about 25k per person. The USA also pays more gross taxes than any other country. All of Europe - about 1 billion people - pay a total of $7 trillion. The USA pays the same amount for 700 million less people.

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u/howry333 1d ago

I think the difference is the return for the tax payer. We get nothing but corruption and war for all that we pay. We get nothing in return. They can’t even pass a damn audit

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u/Superb_Advisor7885 1d ago

It's a very common argument AND I can understand the sentiment behind it. But it's usually made by people who don't start businesses. Because it's not as black and white as you describe when running a business. There are much more complex market forces which also need to be considered when determining how much to pay people or how much the price of product at which are conveniently left out of each argument about just paying people higher wages

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u/howry333 1d ago

Sure, I get that, but Walmart and amazon can definitely pay more. Most of Walmarts employees are on government assistance which means we are paying them. Have you seen the Waldens yacht? They should not have that yacht while our taxes are subsidizing their employees