Quote from: EthanB on May 21, 2018, 04:25:30 PM

Quote from: angel55 on May 21, 2018, 03:05:23 PM

Good points but sadly most of the wealthy people do nothing to help their communities.

Jeff Bezos ...

Sultan of brunei is a greedy pig who ...

Individuals that you deem to be greedy, selfish people are irrelevant to the good that money can do. It is a tool, and a fundamental tool within our world if you are to achieve any consensual transaction with another human being.

Bezos donated $33M in one donation, more money than I will likely ever make in my life. Has that money not helped anyone, any community or done any benevolence? It is easy to point fingers and say "these people could do more", but realistically they've done more than you will ever do.

Almost everything you have access to is because of a successful and altruistic (to some degree) individual. I agree that there are a disproportionate amount of wealthy people that provide nothing beyond economic speculation, political manipulation or inheritance of a particular bloodline. These are unfortunate cases, but what characterizes the success of people like Bezos or Gates is the ability to bring something of value to a great deal of people in a way that has presumably made their lives better. Without their customers directly benefiting there would be no profit, and in this way they help whatever community they interact with. Of course, there is always an equal and opposite reaction and no good deed goes unpunished.

Personally I'd rather live in hunter gatherer time even if I lived a shorter life. Life would be more fulffilling to me. Bezos donated 33 million dollars, but what percent of his net worth at that? I've donated 100x the amount he has if you look at the percentage I've donated compared to my net worth.

Don't say there is only profit in helping customers. Pharmaceutical companies and defense contractors make money off wars and by poisoning people with harmful drugs.