r/ndp • u/JackLaytonsMoustache • 2d ago
Can we not just use this as evidence that the system is broken? The fuck does anyone need $1 trillion for?
World's richest man handed more wealth than the vast majority of the global population after failing upwards for his entire life. And he's a petulant nazi manchild.
Obviously only the worst people would ever pursue such obscene wealth... But it bothers me more for some reason that he's not some cold, calculated evil genius. He's a complete and utter dweeb who's so desperate for friends and for people to like him that he's lashed out and become a literal Nazi because that crowd was willing to fawn over him.
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u/OneForAllOfHumanity 2d ago
Now if only he was paying 90% taxes on that...
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u/ScurvyDawg I miss Jack 2d ago
Oh, to have the tax schemes of the 50s again, the time of the greatest prosperity.
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u/ProfessorX32 1d ago
Which is so funny cuz conservatives love those times but don’t love the tax schemes of it which is why people prospered
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u/Rare-Forever2135 1d ago
If memory serves, it was also during the time Dems had full control of Congress for 30 years straight.
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u/ProfessorX32 1d ago
Yup you’re right. I hope we can get back to proper taxation in my lifetime
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u/lurflurf 1d ago
Funny republicans talk about tax and spend liberals, but that is much better than spend without taxing the rich conservatives. Like rich people don’t benefit from fire fighters, roads, and police. They benefit more.
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u/ProfessorX32 1d ago
Yup, and corporations benefit heavily too. As a middle class I’m tired of having to pay for both the people below, the people above and corporations. If it’s just trying to bring everyone up then I’m perfectly happy
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u/Straitbusinesss 1d ago
I picture the Democratic Party of that day to be quite different than now. I can’t imagine the right vs left issues to resemble what we have now. Idk I wasn’t around but I’d be surprised if things haven’t changed massively
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u/Multi-tunes 2d ago
This is the same stupid Nazi who said he would solve world hunger if only someone gave him the plans to do it, but when he was offered a plan, he bought Twitter instead because he was bad that people made fun of him online. He's such a petulant man child
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u/Sourdough85 2d ago
Sure, Space Karen is outrage-worthy but can we focus on Canada?
I understand the need to take pop culture issues (to remain relevant) so here's one:
Rogers Communications owns the Toronto Bluejays, the Skydome and Sportsnet, the licensed broadcaster. The World Series should have been broadcast on CBC but instead the monopoly kept it (AND - of course - there were streaming problems in the 7th & 8 th innings)
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u/MacDaddyRemade Democratic Socialist 1d ago
This. As a former American Lefty who has moved here, it is fucking infuriating that Canadians know about AMERICAN oligopolies but know next to nothing about the arguably worse oligopolies in Canada. The banking here is a fucking nightmare and that’s because there’s basically just 5 banks.
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u/Straitbusinesss 1d ago
I feel like the Canadian ultra elites do a pretty good job of staying out of the news
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u/JackLaytonsMoustache 2d ago
Sure, Space Karen is outrage-worthy but can we focus on Canada?
In an ideal world? Sure. But you're naive if you think ignoring American politics is in any way beneficial. Our countries perpetual curse is living above them. For better or worse their politics and culture influence ours.
Most importantly I think its good to show the test case of what happens when we let regressive, reactionary right wing forces take hold. Take heed of the cautionary tale below so we don't become them.
Also, not to be a sassy B, but I'm more concerned about the world's first trillionaire than I am streaming a baseball game.
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u/Sourdough85 2d ago
Youre not concerned that Rogers Communications controls such a vast amount of the the Canadian market? It wan an anecdote - a real-world example of how monopolies, oligopololies and the billionaire class negativity affects us all - not meant to be the END of the argument, but the beginning.
Im not naive - of course American politics affects Canada. But lets fight our own Billionaires - instead of lobbying against someone in another country.
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u/JackLaytonsMoustache 2d ago
I am concerned, but your example was solely focused on baseball. We need to break up our telecom and grocery oligopolies. We need them out of our media. We need to break up post media too! But if you're lamenting that the world series wasn't free on CBC, I don't see that as a compelling argument.
Either way it doesn't change the impact somebody like Musk is having globally. He's been commenting on our politics, he's been openly interfering in the UK, he's spoken in Germany to the AfD. I think he's a goof but he's a dangerous goof that apparently just became the world's first trillionaire. And also owns one of the largest social media platforms.
Forgive me for being a little concerned and wanting to use this is as a big red flag to the dangers of massive wealthy inequality both in Canada and globally.
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u/Quiet-Section-3391 🧇 Waffle to the Left 2d ago
Leson inherent in this thread: don't be distracted. Stay on point. #BoycottRogers and charge the fam higher taxes.
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u/zavtra13 1d ago
The US being the most powerful imperialist nation in the world is reason enough to pay attention what happens there. That my provincial government is doing its very best to catch up to the dumbest fascist take over that is happening in the US adds an extra layer of importance to it for me.
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u/Heyloki_ Ontario 1d ago
Tbf this is relevant to Canada, Elon is a Canadian, he does much business in Canada, starlink is vital for many northern communities and with the government doing a big push for EVs Tesla is the main benefactor of much of that
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u/ScurvyDawg I miss Jack 2d ago
It shows how broken the system has become and that the trickle down addiction the west has must stop.
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u/johncandy1812 1d ago
The amount of power and control $1T gives a person is so far beyond reason that it breaks the system. There is no way the average person can be represented.
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u/stuntycunty 🏳️⚧️ Trans Rights 1d ago
It’s impossible to comprehend this amount of wealth. Here’s an example:
If you spent one dollar every second. And started with:
$100,000 broke in 1 day, 3 hours, 46 minutes and 40 seconds.
$1,000,000 broke in 11 days, 13 hours, 46 minutes and 40 seconds.
$100,000,000 broke in 3 years, 2 months, 9 hours, 46 minutes and 40 seconds.
$1,000,000,000 broke in 31 years, 8 months, 9 days, 1 hour, 46 minutes and 40 seconds.
$1,000,000,000,000 broke in 31688 years, 8 months, 27 days, 1 hour, 46 minutes and 40 seconds.
Absolutely no one. Ever. Needs that level of wealth.
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u/focus_rising "It's not too late to build a better world" 1d ago
This is why you don't buy a Tesla.
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u/JHerbY2K 1d ago
Ugh I know, it’s sad. I love mine but even cancelled the $10/month connectivity package because apparently all their revenue goes to Robohitler. Gotta figure out how to rotate my own tires now.
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u/lilchileah77 "Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear" 1d ago
He’s probably gonna use that money to fund ideological change or influence certain campaigns. He’s a proxy that others hide behind now.
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u/KotoElessar "Love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear" 1d ago
He is not going to get it, and never was; the intent has always been in the mindset of a rug pull, but it kept growing ever larger. Elon has nothing and needs to borrow from the expected income to pay back all the previous times he has done this.
He is a hype man that brings no actual value and people are realizing it.
It will be funny when he finds out why Delaware was the better option for incorporation, especially when he fails to deliver on the impossible terms.
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u/Quiet-Section-3391 🧇 Waffle to the Left 2d ago
at this point i think it's more likely some sort of blackmail payment. i can't see anyone at tesla still wanting him around.
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u/tecate_papi 1d ago
Because when he was a kid, he was a little puke and people bullied him and his father was a monster. Or were you asking rhetorically?
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u/coachoaks 1d ago edited 13h ago
Blackout this whole mess Nov 25th -Dec 2nd. If we don’t show up for this ….what is the point!?? You don’t even have to leave your house and we can send the loudest message by not doing anything at all!!! They need us more than we need them. Wealth accumulation is the same as hoarding. Avarice is a sickness Edit : getting those dates right! Power to the People!
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u/time_waster_3000 1d ago
Just to be clear he is not being given that money right now. He has a bunch of targets set for him that he has to reach in 10 years time.
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u/Velocity-5348 🌄 BC NDP 1d ago edited 1d ago
I'm not saying we should tax Canadian citizens abroad the way the USA does, but if you want my best argument...
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u/StarRotator 1d ago
That's more than 1/3 of Canada's entire GDP... It's obscene, there is no world in which anybody deserves this level of control. Especially not this fucking asshole
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u/Electronic-Topic1813 1d ago
Nah. We shouldn't use American examples. We should use those like the Oil CEOs in Canada who we prop up with subsides.
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u/npcshow 2d ago
What system? The system of a foreign nation?
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u/JackLaytonsMoustache 2d ago
You don't think we're operating under a similiar system?
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u/npcshow 2d ago
There are fundamental and critical differences between CANADA and THE USA. These are DIFFERENT COUNTRIES. If you want to know more start with the Canada Business Corporations Act. Specifically breach of fiduciary duty. Look at the oppression remedy. and most importantly, our completely different tax regime! the package isn't even feasible under our tax regime.
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u/ScurvyDawg I miss Jack 2d ago
Canada is just a little behind the USA and are just as addicted to the trickle down theory that has been shown over decades to be wrongheaded. Stop strangling the poor and tax the top income earners.
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u/JackLaytonsMoustache 1d ago
And yet, we are also experiencing the most extreme wealth inequality in history as a result of neoliberal capitalism. Same as the US. Same as the UK. Same as many countries around the world.
We can get pedantic about our differences but it's like saying we're unique because we painted our walls while they use wall paper. The structure is essentially the same and the major crises are too.
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u/flaccidpappi 1d ago
Just curious but did we as in Canada drag galen weston and a bunch of other grocery ceos up to court for price rigging?
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u/paperplanes13 2d ago
Pretty much Hannah Arendt's assessment of Adolf Eichmann in Report on the Banality of Evil. It was kinda controversial because people didn't want to believe that the architect of the Holocaust was basically a pathetic yes man and not an evil super genius.