Opinion on billionaires.

Brittany Large Bartender wrote:

However he is an enigma.

He certainly is, but we need them, they truly create greatness, by simply turning up to work everyday, literally everyday! But, they need to be controlled to some degree, he's highly creative, highly creativeness can sometimes lead to highly fcuked upness, very very quickly, if left alone

Brittany Large Bartender wrote:

This UBI would then establish pre-conditions on such free (digital only) monies. E.g. You would not be allowed to buy any fags, nor a six-pack of Fosters, and only be allowed perhaps 5% max for entertainment purposes.

I think UBI is well worth checking out, but carefully, I think mcwilliams method of crediting esb accounts, would probably work, no need to do much after that, dealers would probably end up selling dodgy accounts, with a bit of coke thrown in as a free gift!

Brittany Large Bartender wrote:

It would need enourmous controls in place, the very last thing any state would want is half of it spent on booze or junk foods. The Aussies did a welfare trial in recent years, digital card only spend, with access blocks on their bottle shops, casinos and lap dancing bars.

Dumping a few quid onto everyone's esb account would probably mean, little or no need for controls after the fact, as it's largely controlled by the action itself

Brittany Large Bartender wrote:

It also cannot ever work while there are concerns of attraction from (illegal)economic migration. 350circa notes per week for nothin', would lead to Banksy's boat/fleet overflowing on a daily basis, and small houses with an sudden abundance of young male registrants.

Same as above.....

Yellow_Fern wrote:

Well we used to use paper for stock trading. The computerised system is more efficient.

More efficient or more fragile! Again, what good is storing wealth as electrons, you can't build things, create things, eat things, manufacturer things, with stored electrons! If our power systems ever collapse, bye bye electrons!

Yellow_Fern wrote:

It is true that inequality is increasing here in Ireland but pretty every social democrat principle is adopted without reflection in Ireland by the media and establishment including FF, FG and SF with one or exception of MNC taxation. The reality is that inequality is increasing in every thriving developed economy and cannot be decoupled from economic growth without hard choices.

Nonsense, plenty of reletively simple solutions out there, that might just work, or help at least, it's a wealth distribution problem we have, we have figured out how to more or less make endless amounts of money, without creating serious inflationary problems, even though it does create other issues, I. E asset price inflation, so we can try effectively control it from there

Brittany Large Bartender wrote:

Restriction on methods of spend can still be applied e.g. max 50 notes per transaction and non-availability of ATMs (no cash). As per the Aussie welfare card only trial.

Why complicate it! Stick credit onto electricity accounts, it is effectively controlled by this action, tis fecken hard to eat electrons!

Brittany Large Bartender wrote:

The might be a surge in nearly new products on used goods sites, as a form of cash liquidation of FMCGs. Proof or residence would be important, e.g. 3-5yrs min, but anyone not meeting that would experience inflation and thus hardship.

Why all the complexity! Would we seriously see a major influx over free/cheaper electricity? Speaking of inflation, where is it, the lads in the central banks are looking for him, they're worried sick, let them know if you find him!

Yellow_Fern wrote: »

The 99% have an extremely high quality of life though. Even in the US, being poor is a more luxury rich quality of life than most people globally. The US is far from a truly capitalist society but I mention it as a reference point.

What's acceptable as the ground floor moves, the point is that the ground floor and the top floor are getting further apart and that's not sustainable. People want their fair share. There was a time where not starving to death was good enough, then things progressed. Good enough will never be static.

Owners taking out hundreds or millions as salary would not be looked upon favourable by investors.

The investors are often the problem. The product has become the stock. If the investors are only interested in the short term gain from selling on they don't care about the business. If the people who own the company work in the company and salaries and dividends are the payoff things shouls be more stable and better for everyone. Not quite seizing the means of production, but having a stake in the long term profitability of the company.

I mean, I don't know ****, but the idea that capitalism is the only way, that banded taxes stop progress and that the system is magically self-regulating just don't hold up.

I think long-term things are still generally getting better, but we need to try not to leave anyone behind.

kowloon wrote:

What's acceptable as the ground floor moves, the point is that the ground floor and the top floor are getting further apart and that's not sustainable. People want their fair share. There was a time where not starving to death was good enough, then things progressed. Good enough will never be static.

People not only want their fair share, many desperately need it, and quickly!

kowloon wrote:

I mean, I don't know ****, but the idea that capitalism is the only way, that banded taxes stop progress and that the system is magically self-regulating just don't hold up.

I believe the solution to capatalisms problems is capatalism itself, ditch this form, the so called free market, and start a new one!

nthclare wrote:

They definitely need a reset, I remember one time on Startrek money was being discussed and Jean Luc Picard said there's no more money.

No offence meant, but at the moment, we need money, and lots more of it, until something better turns up, if it even does. At the moment, I think it's very utopic to imagine a world without money, but who knows in the future, after we re long gone. I also believe we re currently experiencing the beginning of a major societal shift, as has happened many times, historically, hopefully we don't do something dump , like blow ourselves up, while doing so!

There's no conspiracy against us, we are the creators of our own conspiracy, just nobody knows for certain what's going on, or what's gonna happen next, exciting times!