Amazon founder Jeff Bezos plans to give away the majority of his $124 billion net worth during his lifetime, telling CNN in an exclusive interview he will devote the bulk of his wealth to fighting climate change and supporting people who can unify humanity in the face of deep social and political divisions.
I don’t know if that is the case. I kind of dislike the “mental” explanation for the actions of billionares. Yeah they are cruel, but I doubt Bezzos even sees anything wrong with his actions. Or if he even sees his actions at all. He lives in a fantasy land detached from reality thanks to his huge cushion of wealth. He probably genuinely believes in the “invisible hand” and “free market”. Yeah he constantly sees headlines calling him out but that doesn’t mean he understands what they are saying.
That’s the problem with capitalism, the separation of capital from it’s labor so that the capital becomes blind to it’s own actions. It’s why capitalism creates crisis, it cannot see the actions of wealth hoarding, abusing workers, and crushing competitors.
These things aren’t mutually exclusive. I completely agree that billionaires live in a bubble where they’re completely detached from the suffering they cause. However, where the mental aspect comes in is in pursuit of wealth for the sake of wealth. And there is a selection process in play as well. Since the amount of wealth one can hoard is the sole fitness function, it selects for behaviors that are most efficient at achieving this. People who are willing to step on others, to lie, cheat, steal, and do any sorts of immoral actions are rewarded with success. People who have moral qualms end up being outcompeted by those who don’t.
I completely agree with you that it is a systemic problem within capitalism, and the focus should be on moving away from capitalism towards a system that rewards cooperative behaviors where individual self interest aligns with the interest of the majority.
I don’t know if that is the case. I kind of dislike the “mental” explanation for the actions of billionares. Yeah they are cruel, but I doubt Bezzos even sees anything wrong with his actions. Or if he even sees his actions at all. He lives in a fantasy land detached from reality thanks to his huge cushion of wealth. He probably genuinely believes in the “invisible hand” and “free market”. Yeah he constantly sees headlines calling him out but that doesn’t mean he understands what they are saying.
That’s the problem with capitalism, the separation of capital from it’s labor so that the capital becomes blind to it’s own actions. It’s why capitalism creates crisis, it cannot see the actions of wealth hoarding, abusing workers, and crushing competitors.
These things aren’t mutually exclusive. I completely agree that billionaires live in a bubble where they’re completely detached from the suffering they cause. However, where the mental aspect comes in is in pursuit of wealth for the sake of wealth. And there is a selection process in play as well. Since the amount of wealth one can hoard is the sole fitness function, it selects for behaviors that are most efficient at achieving this. People who are willing to step on others, to lie, cheat, steal, and do any sorts of immoral actions are rewarded with success. People who have moral qualms end up being outcompeted by those who don’t.
I completely agree with you that it is a systemic problem within capitalism, and the focus should be on moving away from capitalism towards a system that rewards cooperative behaviors where individual self interest aligns with the interest of the majority.