Big Think

Domenic Papa on January 18, 2008, 9:15 AM

Just how much money do you need. But the thing that realy concerns me is the weath gap and celebrity. While the rich and famous live their pert lifestyle (well according to the press) and wear their designer cloths, jewellery, dring $400 bottles of champagne the rest of us are working longer and getting further into dept just trying to keep up. And this is in the west. The Majority world struggles to survive

Bob Chapman on January 18, 2008, 11:51 AM

Perhaps this is why Mr. Buffet gave billions to Gates' philanthropic organization? Mr. Patrick needs to read about how such billionaires are funding public works projects around the world. This was once done by governments.

Domenic Papa on January 18, 2008, 2:15 PM

Just how much money do you need. But the thing that realy concerns me is the weath gap and celebrity. While the rich and famous live their pert lifestyle (well according to the press) and wear their designer cloths, jewellery, dring $400 bottles of champagne the rest of us are working longer and getting further into dept just trying to keep up. And this is in the west. The Majority world struggles to survive

Bob Chapman on January 18, 2008, 4:51 PM

Perhaps this is why Mr. Buffet gave billions to Gates’ philanthropic organization? Mr. Patrick needs to read about how such billionaires are funding public works projects around the world. This was once done by governments.

Phil Kneessi on January 19, 2008, 2:48 PM

So if there are people who have so much wealth that they can't possibly use it all, and they continue to actively accumulate more wealth only because they know they can, how are they harmed or even disincentivized by high tax rates? We could publish standings in the financial press, similar to baseball standings, about just who made how much money, then tax it so it could be redistributed to build systems to support those living in poverty.

Phil Kneessi on January 19, 2008, 7:48 PM

So if there are people who have so much wealth that they can’t possibly use it all, and they continue to actively accumulate more wealth only because they know they can, how are they harmed or even disincentivized by high tax rates? We could publish standings in the financial press, similar to baseball standings, about just who made how much money, then tax it so it could be redistributed to build systems to support those living in poverty.