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Amazon, Jeff Bezos and Billionaires, we're through the looking glass people!

completedit

America has record high unemployment, in the meantime Bezos and Amazon have amassed an extra 30 billion over the past couple of months, PROFITING from the pandemic. The richest man in America is PROFITING off an event that has brought the economy and many businesses hanging on by a thread if they haven't ceased to exist already.

One on hand, I respect him, he has climbed the ladder and achieved peak capitalism(he is the son of a 16 year old Cuban immigrant which is pretty incredible) but on the other hand, is it morally wrong that people can amass such wealth and give so little back?

I used to think the idea that it simply the market mechanism at play and hey, who can question the market and put a full stop to my questions(same logic when it came to footballers making obscene amounts) but no, the market should suit us as a society, not the elite few who have the gifts to capitalize off it.

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Sheeps

raze_them_all_ wrote: »

If I found a way to cure cancer/aids. Sold it for 300 a pop and became a billionaire people like you would complain that I didn't cure some other disease for free

Incorrect

Capt'n Midnight

raze_them_all_ wrote: »

If I found a way to cure cancer/aids. Sold it for 300 a pop and became a billionaire people like you would complain that I didn't cure some other disease for free

Unfortunately due to the way the patent system works you can do exactly that.

But only for the life of the patent, after that it's a generic.

What is happening in the USA today is that Insulin for diabetes and EiPens cost a lot more than 300 a year. People are dying because they can't afford them.

The patent for insulin was sold off for $1 to put it in the public domain.
EpiPens shot up in price from $50 to $600 , original patent dates from 1970's.

NIMAN

But is he happy?

overkill602

completedit wrote: »

I believe those working for Amazon should receive a fairer slice of the pie. The gap between CEO and worker has sky rocketed since the 1980s'. We are on course to a new feudalism. I can like the products and even admire Bezos, but how come a man who has stated 'there isn't enough philanthropic efforts in the world for me to spend my money on' can't provide a better income for the people who work for him who contribute to the success of the company.

I am sure shareholders would disagree many who probably work there too.
It is a fantastic company run by a visionary.
Will only have these major companies succeed in the US europe is stuck in a socialist quagmire

Gradius

I read somewhere that he's on track to become the world's first trillionaire soonish.

There's wealth and being lucky/clever enough to get your hands on it. I've no problem with that at all.

However, there has to be a limit, on some terms, as to how much money one single person can accumulate. This single person is probably accruing millions upon millions while he has a slash, cuts his nails, asleep in bed. Without going into full blown communist/socialist commentary...why does he need that much money? It's not like he's doing anything to earn it anymore.

If you had 500 billion quid, would you notice any material difference in your life if it was reduced to 250 billion?

It's not just excessive, it's beyond the beyond at this point!

Muahahaha

Earthhorse wrote: »

The issue I have with companies like Amazon, Google, Apple etc. all of whose products I use and enjoy is that they don't pay their fair share of tax.

If they did that I might be happier with the inordinate amounts of money they make.

Yeah the tech companies get a really easy ride and its governments like our own who facilitate it. They're not happy paying a bargain 12.5% and reduce it down to just a fraction of that.

Hopefully something is done on an EU level, its wrong for society that you have these companies making billions and paying 1 or 2% in taxes. In Adam Smiths The Wealth of Nations one of his canons of taxation is the principle of equity and fairness, the idea that everyone pay their fare share. I dont think anyone could argue that tech companies paying 1 or 2% is anywhere near a level of fairness for society.

kowloon

Jeff just works several million times harder than the rest of us.

Gradius

overkill602 wrote: »

I am sure shareholders would disagree many who probably work there too.
It is a fantastic company run by a visionary.
Will only have these major companies succeed in the US europe is stuck in a socialist quagmire

A "visionary"?

He's a bloke who, in some capacity, started selling stuff on the Internet instead of physical shops. That's it.

Sure, there are a lot of difficulties to overcome, logistics etc. But the root of the idea is simple as muck.

Same with your man and PayPal. A convenient way to pay for goods over the Internet. That's it.

That guy from Apple that was supposedly a super genius for "inventing" the iphone/I pod or whatever. It was the thousands of nameless people that worked for him that actually made something.

Then they become billionaires and throw their money into very expensive ideas like space rockets. Do they have a single breeze about building space rockets? No.

Check it out. I'm going to throw 2% of my near limitless money into building cities under the sea. I'm a visionary, you see

A bloke that can accurately forsee and calculate the science of space like Einstein is a visionary. These mega-wealthy single-idea people above are just "right place, right time" people.

If amazon didn't take off, another company would have taken its place almost immediately. Whereas the likes of Einstein may never be repeated.

"visionaries" these people are not

Blueshoe

randd1 wrote: »

Americans don't like taxing the wealthy. It's too close to socialism for them.

And they just don't like socialism, even if it benefits them, or if they stupidly don't realize that quite a fair bit of their country is socialist be definition. But they don't like socialism.

So accumulate away there Jeff, it's the American thing to do.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.thejournal.ie/tax-scheme-multinationals-ireland-4815711-Sep2019/%3Famp%3D1&ved=2ahUKEwjisaqE2bjpAhWHWhUIHfuNDD4QFjABegQIARAC&usg=AOvVaw115RC_0QmEyneMgRS3hDWd&ampcf=1

We have our ways of looking after the super high earning too

raze_them_all_

Gradius wrote: »

A "visionary"?

He's a bloke who, in some capacity, started selling stuff on the Internet instead of physical shops. That's it.

Sure, there are a lot of difficulties to overcome, logistics etc. But the root of the idea is simple as muck.

Same with your man and PayPal. A convenient way to pay for goods over the Internet. That's it.

That guy from Apple that was supposedly a super genius for "inventing" the iphone/I pod or whatever. It was the thousands of nameless people that worked for him that actually made something.

Then they become billionaires and throw their money into very expensive ideas like space rockets. Do they have a single breeze about building space rockets? No.

Check it out. I'm going to throw 2% of my near limitless money into building cities under the sea. I'm a visionary, you see

A bloke that can accurately forsee and calculate the science of space like Einstein is a visionary. These mega-wealthy single-idea people above are just "right place, right time" people.

If amazon didn't take off, another company would have taken its place almost immediately. Whereas the likes of Einstein may never be repeated.

"visionaries" these people are not

If he didn't invent it someone else would of. Yes but nobody else did think of it. If they did we wouldn't be talking about others

[Deleted User]

Blueshoe wrote: »

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://www.thejournal.ie/tax-scheme-multinationals-ireland-4815711-Sep2019/%3Famp%3D1&ved=2ahUKEwjisaqE2bjpAhWHWhUIHfuNDD4QFjABegQIARAC&usg=AOvVaw115RC_0QmEyneMgRS3hDWd&ampcf=1

We have our ways of looking after the super high earning too

The amazon guy likely increases his wealth every hour by more than those affected there earn per annum

This deosnt seem a wealth distribution method that can last long term imo

WhiteMemento9

raze_them_all_ wrote: »

If he didn't invent it someone else would of. Yes but nobody else did think of it. If they did we wouldn't be talking about others

Try speaking English.

[Deleted User]

In an ideal world I'd be buying from small local businesses and they'd have everything I wanted at a reasonable price, and much of the time that's the case. However, I've relied on Amazon a fair bit over the last few months and appreciate the service and choice. I've no problem with Bezos being a billionaire, he's got a great product. I do have a problem with him and others being above paying tax, and with how their workers are apparently sometimes treated.

If there's a happy middle ground where people can get great choice and service and workers are respected and paid decently, it looks like nobody knows where it is, or isn't motivated to find it.

marklazarcovic

One thing all these massive companies have in common,is how they treat the people lower down working for them, usually terribly. It's one thing I don't understand,you have billions you won't ever spend,you could help your employees have a better life without any impact on your own..but instead,you try take more from them..

Psychopathic.

WhiteMemento9

marklazarcovic wrote: »

One thing all these massive companies have in common,is how they treat the people lower down working for them, usually terribly. It's one thing I don't understand,you have billions you won't ever spend,you could help your employees have a better life without any impact on your own..but instead,you try take more from them..

Psychopathic.

Yep, only need to look at the stories from the last week alone.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/04/amazon-engineer-resigns-over-companys-treatment-of-workers.html

https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/14/21259474/amazon-warehouse-worker-death-indiana

Shapey Fiend

Customers have got a bit myopic about getting everything at the lowest possible price as quickly as possible. The people manufacturing and distributing these products are the ones are paying for your discount. I try buy stuff locally off independent retailers as much as I can. These large corporations would soon change their tune if a decent proportion of people stopped frequenting them because of employee conditions.

overkill602

anzn discussed on a hard left board can only be negative, there european centre is in the UK don't think they would be welcome here our sw pays more ireland's biggest alternative employer

mikhail

Shapey Fiend wrote: »

Customers have got a bit myopic about getting everything at the lowest possible price as quickly as possible. The people manufacturing and distributing these products are the ones are paying for your discount. I try buy stuff locally off independent retailers as much as I can. These large corporations would soon change their tune if a decent proportion of people stopped frequenting them because of employee conditions.

That kind of measure has never done much for employees' rights. Labour law and unionisation is the answer. If labour laws are not up to the task of keeping Amazon workers from having to piss into bottles to make their quotas, they need updating.

[Deleted User]

marklazarcovic wrote: »

One thing all these massive companies have in common,is how they treat the people lower down working for them, usually terribly. It's one thing I don't understand,you have billions you won't ever spend,you could help your employees have a better life without any impact on your own..but instead,you try take more from them..

Psychopathic.

Plenty of small businesses with the owner sitting in the corner can treat their employees terribly. It's not unique to big companies.

nails1

EmmetSpiceland wrote: »

It’s goddamned unAmerican not to profit from a national crisis.

Not just American. Look at how much Irish retailers are selling hand sanitisers and other cleaning products.

fryup

so reading between the lines OP you suspect Jeff Bezos to behind this pandemic to boost his profits? hmmmmmmm

Muahahaha

overkill602 wrote: »

anzn discussed on a hard left board can only be negative, there european centre is in the UK don't think they would be welcome here our sw pays more ireland's biggest alternative employer

Boards is hard left :rolleyes: And Amazon are coming here, they are currently looking to find a warehouse on the edge of the M50 to set up their first Irish distribution centre. Thats aside from the 1,000 odd employees they already have working here near Baggot Street.

satguy

Zero hour contracts,, warehouse staff having to piss in bottles,, that Bezos is not a nice guy..

There is a whole list of stuff wrong with Bezos,, even NY refused to let his move his HQ there. It just seems to me that some people make the world a better place,, but not Bezos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Riinow64_jY

Guy:Incognito

Muahahaha wrote: »

And Amazon are coming here, they are currently looking to find a warehouse on the edge of the M50 to set up their first Irish distribution centre. .

They bought the jacobs site on the Belgard road a few years ago and have the place nearly ready from the look of it.

Guy:Incognito

satguy wrote: »

Zero hour contracts,, warehouse staff having to piss in bottles,, that Bezos is not a nice guy..

There is a whole list of stuff wrong with Bezos,, even NY refused to let his move his HQ there. It just seems to me that some people make the world a better place,, but not Bezos.

Should the people that make the laws not give workers better rights?
Maybe Donald Trump doesnt actually care about people after all.........

Zebra3

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

Should the people that make the laws not give workers better rights?
Maybe Donald Trump doesnt actually care about people after all.........

He cares about people all right.

People in his own social circle.

Portmanteau

You can both appreciate the service Amazon provides while at the same time view such a monopoly, which third party sellers have no choice but to get swallowed into, as something not quite right.

You can also be in favour of entrepreneurialism but questioning of such a level of monopoly/lack of competition.

Muahahaha

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

They bought the jacobs site on the Belgard road a few years ago and have the place nearly ready from the look of it.

What year was that? I was just going by this article here from last December which said that they are currently scouting locations for a distribution warehouse around the m50.

Amazon is seeking its first warehouse in Ireland to fulfil orders currently shipped from the UK, according to sources. The move comes as UK prime minister Boris Johnson prepares to lead the UK out of the European Union.

The online retailer is scouting sites with about 100,000 sq ft (9,290 sq m) of space and has evaluated options on the outskirts of Dublin, the sources said. No deal has been agreed and there’s no certainty any lease will be signed, they added.

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/commercial-property/amazon-seeking-first-warehouse-in-ireland-to-fulfil-orders-shipped-from-uk-1.4120153

Cobalt17

Gradius wrote: »

A "visionary"?

He's a bloke who, in some capacity, started selling stuff on the Internet instead of physical shops. That's it.

Sure, there are a lot of difficulties to overcome, logistics etc. But the root of the idea is simple as muck.

Same with your man and PayPal. A convenient way to pay for goods over the Internet. That's it.

That guy from Apple that was supposedly a super genius for "inventing" the iphone/I pod or whatever. It was the thousands of nameless people that worked for him that actually made something.

Then they become billionaires and throw their money into very expensive ideas like space rockets. Do they have a single breeze about building space rockets? No.

Check it out. I'm going to throw 2% of my near limitless money into building cities under the sea. I'm a visionary, you see

A bloke that can accurately forsee and calculate the science of space like Einstein is a visionary. These mega-wealthy single-idea people above are just "right place, right time" people.

If amazon didn't take off, another company would have taken its place almost immediately. Whereas the likes of Einstein may never be repeated.

"visionaries" these people are not

If the retail end of it isn’t your idea of visionary, AWS is certainly one a of kind and definitely visionary.

Dravokivich

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

They bought the jacobs site on the Belgard road a few years ago and have the place nearly ready from the look of it.

I'm pretty sure it's going to be a data centre.