The vast majority of wealthy people, and virtually all of the mega-rich, either inherit it and or marry it. None of them actually earn it. The "self-made man" is a myth...created by wealthy men. #TaxTheRich https://getpocket.com/explore/item/if-you-re-so-smart-why-aren-t-you-rich-turns-out-it-s-just-chance
@TwiHusband LOL--feels like there's a rich vein of Elon humor here. "If you're so rich, why aren't you smart?", "thank you for conclusively proving that being rich does not confer genius wisdom on people" etc.
@rpardee I think most of the rich are, in fact, dumb as a bag of hammers. Cunning and greedy, but stupid. Another part of the "rich mythos" is eccentric behavior. As long as it isn't too offensive it's "They're rich, they can do anything they please."
I keep recalling Heinlein's quote. If I recall correctly, "Crazy, stupid, and evil are difficult for the external observer to distinguish, because their results look pretty much the same."
That explains a LOT of our current situation.
@rpardee It also explains why the occasional wealthy person, like Dolly Parton or Taylor Swift, who manages to hang on to their humanity, are actually treated with some contempt for it.
@TwiHusband @rpardee the generational wealthy buy their children's way through university. the kids don't have to work hard, because they ride on endowments. they get passed or the money stops
@TwiHusband 💯 . If you're rich, you can buy smart people to help protect your wealth & advance your policy preferences.
@rpardee Exactly correct.
The converse of the self-made myth is that if you aren't a billionaire, you're a failure, and there's something intellectually and/or morally wrong with you.
We tell people that slaving away is the key to happiness, pay them pennies, and then shame them for not having made their first million by 25.
A moment of irony. The closest we can get today to the "self-made" myth? Taylor Swift. And even she required an organization to make it happen.