Europeans more altruistic?

[A Professional]

Warren Buffet, the 3rd richest man in the world, has lived in the same modest house for most of his life, drives shit car:

His children will not inherit a significant proportion of his wealth. This is consistent with statements he has made in the past indicating his opposition to the transfer of great fortunes from one generation to the next.[106] Buffett once commented, "I want to give my kids just enough so that they would feel that they could do anything, but not so much that they would feel like doing nothing".

On December 9, 2010, Buffett, Bill Gates, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, signed a promise they called the "Gates-Buffett Giving Pledge", in which they promised to donate to charity at least half of their wealth over time, and invited others among the wealthy to donate 50% or more of their wealth to charity.[125][126]

I don't have a problem with guilt about money. The way I see it is that my money represents an enormous number of claim checks on society. It's like I have these little pieces of paper that I can turn into consumption. If I wanted to, I could hire 10,000 people to do nothing but paint my picture every day for the rest of my life. And the GDP would go up. But the utility of the product would be zilch, and I would be keeping those 10,000 people from doing AIDS research, or teaching, or nursing. I don't do that though. I don't use very many of those claim checks. There's nothing material I want very much. And I'm going to give virtually all of those claim checks to charity when my wife and I die.

Buffett said that he would meet wealthy individuals in India and China to talk about philanthropy and stated that they hope the idea of generosity will spread.[5] He stated, "We're hoping that America, which is the most generous society on Earth, becomes even more generous over time."

Can you imagine some nouveau-riche Arabian doing something like that?
They'd probably spend it all on gold hummers and dong enlargement surgery.

[NeilGM]

For some reason I can't see that house without a entire army of security around it. Billionaires familys just would not be safe from ransom

[A Professional]

For some reason I can't see that house without a entire army of security around it. Billionaires familys just would not be safe from ransom

Obviously for practical reasons he has to have security. But the man has pledged his wealth to charity when he dies.
He's worth 39 billion dollars. But he gives himself a salary of 100,000/yr.

[NeilGM]

$100,00 a year is more than enough to live a good life. Lets be honest though he's a business man so his car, health insurance, tax against goods etc, is claimed for through the business, he owes nothing on his home, he has no other debts.. that $100,000 is virtually tax free, and say he does need something he has got allot of capital. Just under $2000 a week is more than enough for anyone, never mind when you have very low out goings! I do like what the guy is doing though. A life of excess may appear to be good on paper but it is not good for the soul. Should be more people like this.
I think that anything over a $1,000,000 earned/made in all the countries should be taxed at 50% and that money goes directly to the poor. People can still be rich, but the harder they work for them selves the better poorer people will be.

[A Professional]

I was possibly with you until you said money should go directly to the poor. It depends on what you mean by that.
I can see providing opportunities for the poor to better themselves, because even Buffet admits that his children are going to need a certain sum to be the best they can be.
Unless you're a super genius, it takes money to make money. The rich and connected have many advantages over the vast majority.

However, that's only if they are actually going to do something with the money. Just giving them money? I say fuck that.

[NeilGM]

I was possibly with you until you said money should go directly to the poor. It depends on what you mean by that.
I can see providing opportunities for the poor to better themselves, because even Buffet admits that his children are going to need a certain sum to be the best they can be.
However, that's only if they are actually going to do something with the money. Just giving them money, I say fuck that.

No not well fare them all off... I mean build them farms where they struggle to grow food. Build schools, hospitals so they can live healthy and learn. Use money to police/protect areas that are unstable so people can build a town and create for them selves without it being blown to bits.
I do not believe in well fare states should that be in the poorest of Africa or the UK or US even, I do believe though everyone should have a good education, access to hospitals, food, medicines and that people should not have to live in fear all their lives.

1 man does not need a $1,000,000,000, a man does not need $10,000,000 even.

[A Professional]

That is why I think in certain instances, socialism is the best form of government. In others, capitalism.

The problem I see is, I'm not sure that everyone is capable of taking advantage of what you're describing.
In South Africa the white farmers were producing enough food that they were capable of exporting it.
Now that there's black rule, this isn't the case.

If you were to make sweeping reforms as you're describing, and the people failed to take advantage of those reforms,
we'd be in trouble. Because now there's no incentive for people to become billionaires that can be taxed at 50%, to contribute to the collective good.
The system wouldn't be in place anymore, thus no tax at 50%, thus no benefit, and total societal collapse.

Under a fairly homogenous society, with everyone more or less having the same capabilities, cultural loyalties...
I could see what you're saying working.

I think Scandinavia is an example of that.

[NotMrAverage]

I like the old geezers way of thinking. Life need to be in balance for one to lead a good life. To much of anything is a bad thing...very cliche but bb:s esp need to think about this. Realitycheck is something most people need more of.

[Bad Boy Dazza]

Can you imagine some nouveau-riche Arabian doing something like that?
They'd probably spend it all on gold hummers and dong enlargement surgery.

They'd spend it all on underage sex slaves.

[sync pulse]

I was possibly with you until you said money should go directly to the poor. It depends on what you mean by that.
I can see providing opportunities for the poor to better themselves, because even Buffet admits that his children are going to need a certain sum to be the best they can be.
Unless you're a super genius, it takes money to make money. The rich and connected have many advantages over the vast majority.

However, that's only if they are actually going to do something with the money. Just giving them money? I say fuck that.

An Ayn Rand disciple, by God...

[A Professional]

An Ayn Rand disciple, by God...

I've never read any of her books.
From what I hear about her, I don't think she would agree with everything I'm saying...not by a long shot.

If you read my follow-up post you'd see why. But you probably didn't even read it and just jumped to conclusions.

Black and white thinking...

[xxxLinda]

Oh dear you're so going all off tangent.  Hello?  So few Europeans have ever read Ayn Rand, she's American, they've never heard of her.  There's a right wing sect of your tea party lot who may or may not have preached her theories to the political elite over here in England, but they simply just don't get it here, they prefer socialism and shun what they define as 'capitalism', hence the demise of our once Great Britain.


Very few have read her or care to.  She was kinda bonkers.  But I've read her more than twice and will do so again.  I read her once every decade to see how much I've learned or changed...


Yeppers, we're ever so very altrustic over here...
truly - hit me with a stick.
xL
Linda in London England.

[A Professional]

Oh dear you're so going all off tangent.  Hello?  So few Europeans have ever read Ayn Rand, she's American, they've never heard of her.  There's a right wing sect of your tea party lot who may or may not have preached her theories to the political elite over here in England, but they simply just don't get it here, they prefer socialism and shun what they define as 'capitalism', hence the demise of GB.


Very few have read her or care to.  She was kinda bonkers.  But I've read her more than twice and will do so again.  I read her once every decade to see how much I've learned or changed...


Yeppers, we're ever so very altrustic over here...
truly - hit me with a stick.
xL
Linda in London England.

Who is this post directed to?

[xxxLinda]

You obviously as you've read it and responded.  Also to the other browsers and watchers and readers and perusers who don't post.


Surely not to anyone who has read all of Ayn Rand?  I liked her females till I got tired of them...



.....I thought I was sticking up for Euro peans although us Brits are still an island adrift?



I was saying us lot here are so very up there and all true? istic?
xL
London England


plus we tend to be rather clever and ever so funny...

[A Professional]

When I say 'Europeans', that's a politically correct way of saying 'white people'--or people of European descent.
I was talking to a British actor recently, and we got on the subject of innovation and the Chinese. He said, "I just don't think they have the creativity that we Europeans have" pause... looks at me and my friend, then says, "and by Europeans, I mean us". (I am American)

And anyway, you sound like a lovely if a bit scattered woman Linda.
I bet you've got a nice pair.

[_bruce_]

When I say 'Europeans', that's a politically correct way of saying 'white people'--or people of European descent.
I was talking to a British actor recently, and we got on the subject of innovation and the Chinese. He said, "I just don't think they have the creativity that we Europeans have" pause... looks at me and my friend, then says, "and by Europeans, I mean us". (I am American)

And anyway, you sound like a lovely if a bit scattered woman Linda.
I bet you've got a nice pair.

A fading memory. Our "Altruism" is forcefully directing into the wrong direction.

[A Professional]

A fading memory. Our "Altruism" is forcefully directing into the wrong direction.

Elaborate.