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Where Is Their Fair Share?

There are some very rich people spouting that they are going to make the rich pay "their fair share". Why have they not voluntarily done it then?

I say this not to blow my own horn but to make a point. When I was age 20 I decided that I would always keep what I needed to live comfortably and give the rest away. I have never been rich or even close to rich. But if some average guy like me can do it, why don't they? I suspect that they don't really mean it or they would already have done it themselves.

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helenS · 36-40, F

Why have they not voluntarily done it then?

Many rich people have. Examples: (a) retired from his day to day experiences, John D. Rockefeller donated more than $500 million dollars to various educational, religious, and scientific causes through the Rockefeller Foundation. He funded the establishment of the University of Chicago and the Rockefeller Institute, among many other philanthropic endeavors. (b) Microsoft co-founder William Henry "Bill" Gates donated $20 billion to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation; he gave away “virtually all of my wealth to the foundation” and eventually drop off the list of the world's wealthiest people altogether.

Riverman2 · 61-69, M

@helenS Great point and great example.

helenS · 36-40, F

@Riverman2 I think the average Joe in the street is just as good or bad or greedy or charitable as a rich guy.

Riverman2 · 61-69, M

@helenS That is true. I guess I was referring specifically to those who are always yapping about how they are going to force others but don't do it themselves.

helenS · 36-40, F

@Riverman2 Hypocrites. Saying one thing and doing another.

Really · 80-89, M

@helenS As of today Forbes says Bill Gates net worth is $106 Billion. His 20 million donation *see edit below* would be what? - about .02%. I wonder where "virtually all of my wealth" went, and how much THAT would have been? His 20 million philanthropy out of 106B. would be like me dropping $5 a month at the food bank.

EDITS: That '20 million' should have been 20 Billion - more like 0.2% and more like the size of my own actual 'philanthropy' ; draws my attention to how puny that really is. Still, the OP spoke about fair sharing, which seems like a slightly different concept than the donated proportion of one's massively disproportionate wealth.

Not to mention the savage, monopolistic , competition-squashing business practices that Gates used to get the money; practices his brainchild Microsoft still operates by. I still despise those.

(Written using linux mint 17.3 😁.)

Budwick · 70-79, M

@Riverman2

I guess I was referring specifically to those who are always yapping about how they are going to force others but don't do it themselves.

How do they force others into giving?

Riverman2 · 61-69, M

@Budwick I assume they mean that when they get enough political power they will either tax them or conduct some sort of confiscation. Given their lack of voluntary giving themselves, I assume there will be some sort of way to exempt themselves. But I dunno really, just conjecture based on what has happened in other countries.

Budwick · 70-79, M

@Riverman2 So, you are talking about politicians.
Not simply wealthy people.

Riverman2 · 61-69, M

@Budwick I can't generalize all politicians and or all rich people. I just know that there have been a lot of both saying these things.

helenS · 36-40, F

@Really

His 20 million donation would be what?

20 billion, not 20 million, so roughly 20%.

Budwick · 70-79, M

@Riverman2

I can't generalize all politicians and or all rich people.

But yet you did.
And, you took time and words to explain your own philanthropy in detail.

Riverman2 · 61-69, M

@Budwick So, you are saying that you never have heard a rich person claim that they are in favor of making rich ppl pay their fair share? Or are you just wanting to pick a fight? What is your motivation?

Budwick · 70-79, M

@Riverman2

So, you are saying that you never have heard a rich person claim that they are in favor of making rich ppl pay their fair share?

Actually, in my last comment I was pointing out that while you SAID you couldn't generalize all politicians and or all rich people. and yet you did.

But, to your question, I really haven't heard a rich person saying that they are in favor of making rich ppl pay their fair share.

No, I'm not interested in fighting. I don't have a problem drilling down to truth.

Really · 80-89, M

https://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-61424,00.html

"The original meaning of billion, established in the 15th century, was "a million of a million" (1,000,000 to the power of 2, hence the name billion), or 10 to the power of 12 = 1 000 000 000 000. ..... In 1975 Chancellor Denis Healey announced that the treasury would adopt the US billion thenceforth. Presuambly at the same time what was a billion became a trillion"

(Some countries still use the 'full size' billion.)

Really · 80-89, M

@Riverman2 I wonder who you're talking to? Myself I'm just intererted in the subject, discussing and exploring it.

Really · 80-89, M

@Riverman2

I can't generalize

Oh go ahead. Everyone else does.😆