• Cosmonaut_Collin@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    I wish more millionaires and billionaires would use their exorbitant wealth for community service. Clearly they can still be wealthy and make positive impacts in the world.

    • The Picard Maneuver@lemmy.worldOP
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      4 months ago

      I have a hard time imagining not doing that if I were rich. The constant motivation to do something to help people would be so strong.

      • Notyou@sopuli.xyz
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        4 months ago

        That’s what happened to Rockefeller and Carnegie. After, I think, Vanderbilt died Rockefeller and Carnegie got into a competition to see who can give away the most money. They donated buildings, money, and all sorts of stuff till they died. The thing is, they were making so much money through their businesses they ended up with more money when they died.

        Of course this “change of heart” the 2 had was after decades of competing to be the richest man in the world. They accomplished this by not paying workers enough, and even making production more dangerous. The steel workers were being injured at a rate of 1 in 9. They should have been taxed properly to begin with and pay their workers better instead of calling pinkertons to shoot them when they striked.

        The Pinkerton/steel workers were Carnegie. Rockefeller had his own problems, include running newspaper articles saying electricity is dangerous and burns down houses, so stick with Rockefeller kerostine lamps or other trusted oil products.

          • Riven@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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            4 months ago

            Reminds me of how people were claiming, technically rightish, that seat belts injured a ton of people when they were first made legal way back when.

            Like yea, injuries due to car crashes spiked a ton that first year but that’s cause people stopped fucking dying in car crashes thanks to them.

            • Notyou@sopuli.xyz
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              4 months ago

              Exactly. Head injuries also went up in the military after the introduction of the metal helmets in WW1. Some extra critical thinking might tell you those head injuries would have been deaths of not for the helmets.

    • Empricorn@feddit.nl
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      4 months ago

      If we taxed them and closed loopholes, we wouldn’t have to depend on them being generous on a whim and paying their fair share…

      • CarbonatedPastaSauce@lemmy.world
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        4 months ago

        You’re absolutely right they need to be heavily taxed, but the government has plenty of money and they aren’t doing anything like this. So taxing the rich appropriately still wouldn’t lead to outcomes like this, which is what makes this guy special.

    • brbposting@sh.itjust.works
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      4 months ago

      I’d be a full on hedonist. Donate to causes in person for the smiles and the thanks.

      Having my name on stuff - eh… not as important b/c I see how colloquial names are given and dedicator’s names[1] are ignored.

      [1] Bay Area people: you ever hop on the Nimitz or Junipero Sera? More like the 880 or the 280. Or do you hear “John F. Kennedy Space Center” or just “Cape Canaveral” when rockets launch?

    • hardcoreufo@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      They all want to be remembered and worshiped for what they accomplished by seeing numbers go up in their bank account.

      They are too egotistical to realize they would actually earn respect, adoration and have a legacy if they put their money towards helping the world be a better place. Instead they seem to think having a dick measuring contest via rocketships is a good way to help humanity.