Millionaires begging for money

[Combat squirrel]

wat

Yep, millions and millions of people cannot afford housing, eat and have access to quality healthcare. The 3 minimum basics of a society.

The USA is the most dysfunctional dystopian society I am aware of, one of only 2 countries on Earth I think that doesn't have at least some form of social healthcare.

 

[Deleted User 298457]

Yep, millions and millions of people cannot afford housing, eat and have access to quality healthcare. The 3 minimum basics of a society.

The USA is the most dysfunctional dystopian society I am aware of, one of only 2 countries on Earth I think that doesn't have at least some form of social healthcare.

If you didn't speak exclusively in hyperbole you may have a point

 

[Hades]

It maybe the richest country on Earth, but it also has the largest wealth inequality - the overwhelming vast enormous majority of people live in poverty there, 99% are one accident away from being homeless - given the total lies of their healthcare system artificially increasing prices to impossible levels to force insurance on people.

As for those in the affected areas of LA - while some 'wealthy' they are billions of times closer to being homeless than a true billionaire.

The top 1% of America own the majority of Americas wealth, think about that for a moment, it's disgusting.

In conclusion, due to the selfish nature of their culture after decades of moulding its people for profit, those with the money to help dont care, and wont donate much of any significant sums.

I don't disagree. But it should be the US donatinng to help US citizens. Now if it were a poorer country then I would donate (and have donein the past).

 

[Gray2233]

Seen more than one mansion ablaze with a lambo or ferrari in the shot.

Tell me why I should care, or support those people over the homeless on the streets or average joe that can't afford a house and will rent until they die?

It's laughable, we're actually seeing literal bourgeoisie for the first time since the coin was termed, and it's the people that argued for it being a valid term asking for help!

The Cali- based elite can go to hell tbh.

 

[Combat squirrel]

If you didn't speak exclusively in hyperbole you may have a point

It literally is only 1 of 2 countries on Earth without minimum basic healthcare, I don't know whats exaggerated about that.

It's also the only country on Earth that if you manage to flee it - you still have to pay the USA gov tax, it really is a dark dark place, I'm so thankful I wasn't born there & I sincerely hope that it keeps its mitts off the UK.

 

[Combat squirrel]

I don't disagree. But it should be the US donatinng to help US citizens. Now if it were a poorer country then I would donate (and have donein the past).

Oh yeah, for sure, but, as usual, the real problems in society are the 1% - they have the majority of the money but won't give it away. I imagine a few million donations will come in from the middle class, but it won't be huge amounts.

But yeah, in principle I agree with you - however I'd phrase it 'the people who robbed the USA of it wealth and hoarded it to obscene levels should pay to sort the country out', not just LA, the entire thing, including health care.

In my book, a country cannot be 1st world if you don't have a basic healthcare system, I'd class it a 2nd world country as its missing one basic pilar of an advanced society.

 

[dowie]

It maybe the richest country on Earth, but it also has the largest wealth inequality - the overwhelming vast enormous majority of people live in poverty there, 99% are one accident away from being homeless - given the total lies of their healthcare system artificially increasing prices to impossible levels to force insurance on people.

Google is free btw - the opposite is true, far from being in poverty the majority of Americans are rather well off, the average net worth in the US is now a million!

How Does Your Net Worth Stack Up Against the Average for Your Income Level?

Find out how you compare to other Americans based on your income percentile.

www.investopedia.com

As of 2022, the average net worth in the United States was $1,063,700, an increase of 23% from just three years earlier, according to the Federal Reserve. Meanwhile, the median net worth rose 37% to reach $192,200.

The top 1% of America own the majority of Americas wealth, think about that for a moment, it's disgusting.

Why?

 

[Combat squirrel]

Google is free btw - the opposite is true, far from being in poverty the majority of Americans are rather well off, the average net worth in the US is now a million!

How Does Your Net Worth Stack Up Against the Average for Your Income Level?

Find out how you compare to other Americans based on your income percentile.

www.investopedia.com

Why?

Statistics are useless, especially averages, yet 41.89 million people in the USA live below the poverty line - discovered by this fancy website you call "google"

You know, if the top 1% own the majority of the USA's wealth (i.e. that is more than half of all the money there owned by less than 1% of the population) your average will indeed probably be a million...............

Nearly 42 million people live in poverty there, astonishing, half the UK population - or 1 in 5 in the USA.

So much for a country that calls itself a 'leader' if it can't look after millions, tens of millions, forty two, MILLION, of its own.

 

[dowie]

Statistics are useless, especially averages

But you made a statistical claim that was false; " the overwhelming vast enormous majority of people live in poverty there" and now you've just admitted it was false, around 11% of the US live in "poverty" - i.e. have a low income.

It's the richest country in the world, the overwhelming majority of people there are very well off indeed and even the poorest have access to first-world infrastructure.

Back to the topic of the fires, the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood is (or was in some cases) literally full of millionaires, some of them have lost the biggest asset they own but the vast majority of them will bounce back. You've got a deeply pessimistic and completely warped view of the US.

 

[Zefan]

Red Nose Day bad.

Live Aid bad.

Live 8 bad?

Celebrities bad?

Grrr angry they have money and I don't.

I don't actually care, I just enjoy being a bit silly x

 

[tamzzy]

Grrr angry they have money and I don't.

not angry, just pointing out hypocrisy

 

[Zefan]

not angry, just pointing out hypocrisy

So can the same be said for every single charity drive? Should celebrities not help them by using their fame to increase reach?

:edit: Just seen your point about pledging to match, who says they don't? It's a bit crass to declare you're donating and they're already giving up their time which is worth more than almost anyone would donate.

 

[Combat squirrel]

But you made a statistical claim that was false; " the overwhelming vast enormous majority of people live in poverty there" and now you've just admitted it was false, around 11% of the US live in "poverty" - i.e. have a low income.

It's the richest country in the world, the overwhelming majority of people there are very well off indeed and even the poorest have access to first-world infrastructure.

Back to the topic of the fires, the Pacific Palisades neighbourhood is (or was in some cases) literally full of millionaires, some of them have lost the biggest asset they own but the vast majority of them will bounce back. You've got a deeply pessimistic and completely warped view of the US.

No, poverty is poverty, not you trying to pretend it isn't.

And no they don't have access to first world infrastructure in the usa, unlike the uk you can't just walk into a hospital or doctors and get treated, they want your money to do it.

I'm not sure why you're so supportive of the usa, its a dystopian hell, frankly, literally everything is pay walled, there is no humanity about the place.

No, honestly the 'overwhelming majority' are not well off, in the slightest, its a cash rich country with some of the worlds lowest living standards for the majority - I dont think you can possibly fathom just how unequal the wealth is over there.

Just because a families take home could be $200,000 - thats very little as soon as you consider the cost of healthcare, also everything costs more there. You'd be far better off earning half that in the UK because WHEN you need a hospital it won't cost your entire families fortune.

Nine Charts about Wealth Inequality in America

Explore how wealth inequality has varied across race, age, and time in the US over the past 60 years, what’s driving inequities, and how policymakers can close these gaps and help all Americans build wealth.

apps.urban.org

 

[Hades]

No, poverty is poverty, not you trying to pretend it isn't.

And no they don't have access to first world infrastructure in the usa, unlike the uk you can't just walk into a hospital or doctors and get treated, they want your money to do it.

I'm not sure why you're so supportive of the usa, its a dystopian hell, frankly, literally everything is pay walled, there is no humanity about the place.

No, honestly the 'overwhelming majority' are not well off, in the slightest, its a cash rich country with some of the worlds lowest living standards for the majority - I dont think you can possibly fathom just how unequal the wealth is over there.

Just because a families take home could be $200,000 - thats very little as soon as you consider the cost of healthcare, also everything costs more there. You'd be far better off earning half that in the UK because WHEN you need a hospital it won't cost your entire families fortune.

Nine Charts about Wealth Inequality in America

Explore how wealth inequality has varied across race, age, and time in the US over the past 60 years, what’s driving inequities, and how policymakers can close these gaps and help all Americans build wealth.

apps.urban.org

Despite what I said previously about not wanting to donate because it's the richest country on earth and they should be helping themselves, this has indeed got me thinking. Having been to the US a few times with work, I agree with what you say. The US is great if you are rich but it is not great if you are poor. I've even told my daughter this as she is enamoured with the US.

 

[Rroff]

There is definitely some contrasts to the country - one of my friends out there is working a second job that literally is just to pay his kid's healthcare - last time I talked to him IIRC $650/m.

 

[Gray2233]

Red Nose Day bad.

Live Aid bad.

Live 8 bad?

Celebrities bad?

Grrr angry they have money and I don't.

I don't actually care, I just enjoy being a bit silly x

It's probably a good idea to look at profit margins over time, which have absolutely increased within many industries over the past few years.

Making money is one thing, taking the proverbial pee is another, many companies within many industries have been taking the pee. Blame it on the economy/covid for price rises, meanwhile their profits skyrocket. Fast food is a prime example, especially in the USA with the likes of McDonalds -- aka food aimed at poor people, odd how that happens. We see the same in the UK, supermarkets have been pulling the same BS, as have resource related companies (electric etc) on the basis the Ukraine etc were doing a number on their sourcing costs. Yet when you look at their actual profit margins (as a percentage over past years) they're almost always making mega bucks, and the hikes are often just excuses to rip off the public because Billy big bucks wants another mansion.

Does it bother me personally? Not so much, it sucks but I get by and can enjoy my life. That's hardly the point, though, is it?

First world nations shouldn't have first world citizens living in tents or under bridges, while third world "guests" are in hotels. Our entire system is ridiculous from the ground up, and largely a result of consecutive governments kicking the can down the road. People rant about racism this and that, but they refuse to accept that classism still exists and there's a literal political class that has been messing up for decades. Labour is a working mans party, so why are those in charge like Kier Starmer Lord this and that, and multi-millionaires? There's nothing working class about any of them, it's laughable and no wonder people become jaded.

 

[SpellowHouse]

I stumbled across this article about Simon Cowell begging people to raise funds for his celebrity friends who have lost their houses due to the LA fires.

Simon Cowell sends a message of support to Los Angeles residents

Residents have been encouraged to evacuate their homes and strict water saving rules have been imposed as a result of the inferno.

www.dailymail.co.uk

He's literally begging the public, who are undoubtably poorer than him or any of his celebrity mates.

The lack of self awareness is astounding. But he's not alone in a trend that started a long time ago.

I'm thinking of millionaire youtube and twitch streamers who still have their donations function on.

The sad thing is Joe Bloggs will make himself skint thinking his donation will make any difference to the streamer.

I don't know if the streamers realise they are millionaires or are doing it out of greed. But it's one of the modern spectacles I think, to see a poor man feeling he has to hand over money to a millionaire*.

*Some streamers are self aware and have turned off the donations facility.

They've always done it. I mean look at the Royal Family. Wandering about supporting the poor, while all their money derives from stealing land and taking very large handouts from public finances.

I think these fires are a bit of an eye opener. Apparently, some of the celebs are paying $2000 an hour for their own private fire brigade to look after their properties.

 

[Rroff]

some of the celebs are paying $2000 an hour for their own private fire brigade to look after their properties.

In parts of the US the fire brigade is sometimes basically a private entity owned by some rich person and is also the first responders for a wide range of things, and then bill the person and/or their insurance for a call out.

 

[SpellowHouse]

In parts of the US the fire brigade is sometimes basically a private entity owned by some rich person and is also the first responders for a wide range of things, and then bill the person and/or their insurance for a call out.

I think that's something that a lot of Brits don't understand. It's all about your insurance policies in the US. If you don't have any, you are completely stuffed.

 

[D.P.]

In parts of the US the fire brigade is sometimes basically a private entity owned by some rich person and is also the first responders for a wide range of things, and then bill the person and/or their insurance for a call out.

In most if the US fire brigade is essentially private and you have to pay insurance to have coverage. They can literally watch your house burn down if you haven't been paying insurance. Or they will battle the fire and then bankrupt you with fees