Friday, November 4, 2011

Passion Party #406 - Rich Vs. Poor (Money, Part 17)

There is a lot of talk about financial inequality
People out of work protesting on Wall Street
Others marching on Billionaire's mansions to voice discontent.

I understand the resentment people feel about those that succeed in getting
an inordinate amount of money.

But think of this:
Would you rather that Bill Gates use his money to create a foundation to help cure disease in the world and to help make America's schools world-class again, or that he give it to our government to squander by committee as they see fit?

As Mae West once said, "I've been rich and I've been poor. Believe me, rich is better."

I can vouch for this, from personal experience.
It all starts from getting out of "poverty consciousness"
and into action.

"The best thing you can do to help the poor
is not be one of them." - Joe Stumpf

7 comments:

  1. From: Mark D. Gershenson [mailto:mdg@mdglaw.com]
    Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 12:09 PM
    To: gkahn@mortgcap.com
    Subject: Re: Passion Party #404 - Rich Vs. Poor (Money, Part 17)

    The people protesting seem unaware that most jobs are created by entrepreneurs, not the government; and that entrepreneurs are more apt to create jobs when the government gets out of their way.

    Yes, we need some regulation, but much of what now exists is excessive.

    Is there an inalienable right to have a job? I don't think so. At the risk of sounding heartless and insensitive, people who don't have a job and want one might think about creating one for themselves.

    ReplyDelete
  2. From: Debbi Kanoff
    Subject: RE: Passion Party #404 - Rich Vs. Poor (Money, Part 17)

    Thought-provoking piece.
    I wonder, do you believe that all, or even most, or even many billionaires are as civic-minded and generous as Bill Gates?
    And do you also believe the government sees fit to merely “squander” all our tax dollars?
    Just asking… ;)
    P.S. I am not allergic to people who have contrary political views from mine.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I thought this post might trigger a lot of responses, and it has.
    I am not suggesting that all the billionaires are civic minded. I hate the wall street game and the way banks have rigged the system where they get bailed out and then refuse to loan money to worthy people, sitting on the cash to prop up their stock value and balance sheet.
    As for our “tax dollars at work”, I have been very cynical for a long time as to how much good the government can actually do, considering the people in Washington and how self-serving they all are. I love Obama, and wish he had spent his first two years focusing on job creation instead of health care and other divisive issues. But the Democrats saw a window of opportunity to push through stuff, and they did the best they could, I guess.
    I would feel better about my tax dollars if we brought all the troops home and ended our various foreign wars. That money alone could have helped a lot of people out of poverty over the last 10 years.

    ReplyDelete
  4. From: chsid@aol.com
    Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 11:36 AM
    To: gkahn@mortgcap.com
    Subject: Re: Passion Party #404 - Rich Vs. Poor (Money, Part 17)


    Well said.
    It's like something Kesey said about his Stanford creative writing group when he was young -- the teacher got them to out of the sniping that writers always do of each other and taught them that in each person's success, they all succeeded.

    It's a lesson we need to learn -- the good that happens to one person, especially when it is the result of ethical behavior, hard work, talent and intelligence, takes nothing away from anyone else and enriches us all.

    ReplyDelete
  5. From: Mark Zaslove
    Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 7:57 AM
    To: gkahn@mortgcap.com
    Subject: Re: Passion Party #404 - Rich Vs. Poor (Money, Part 17)

    I don't disagree with what you're saying here, but I think the protest is about the "criminally" rich who are not held accountable for destroying other people's monies and investments while culling off their own wealth. Honest bucks like Bill Gates (essentially) or Steve Jobs, no problem - Enron, investment houses that are irresponsible, most of the Wall Street system which has gone from its original concept (investing in businesses so they can something) to becoming a high stakes Las Vegas that trades in digital currency rather than building things...that I don't agree with.

    Just my 2 cents,

    ReplyDelete
  6. I thought this post might trigger comments.
    I am with you as well – having spent the last 25 years working for banks, it has been all too clear that they rig the game for their own benefit. The fact that none of the big players in the financial crisis of 2008 are in jail or paying restitution is very unfair.

    ReplyDelete
  7. From: Mark Zaslove
    Sent: Wednesday, October 12, 2011 11:25 AM
    To: George Kahn
    Subject: Re: Passion Party #404 - Rich Vs. Poor (Money, Part 17)

    Yeah, I'm with you. More jail for them!

    But, as usual, a good Passion Party (I read every day).

    ReplyDelete