Gregory's Server"But what if they don't deserve that money?" is somehow only a question raised about poor people.
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 @LazaroDTormes @MostlyHarmless Maybe. But a lot of people, although they won't admit it, worship the rich and powerful. You can append the names of the wealthiest pastors, gurus, church leaders, spiritual advisors, etc here if you'd like. They say they are really, really close to God, some talk directly to God on a regular basis, sometimes on their personal jets and in their megamansions.  @LazaroDTormes @rvaughnmd @MostlyHarmless no, it is also true if god lives in the sky and you sit on top of a giant pile of money. AFAIK this equation is the essence of Calvinism (you can see if you are chosen, when you are able to be rich), which is not worshipping money but a Christian god. And that belief is a major influence on protestant and evangelical church.  AFAIK this equation is the essence of Calvinism (you can see if you are chosen, when you are able to be rich), which is not worshipping money but a Christian god.
@squiddle @LazaroDTormes have they heard about this guy who used to live in Palestine, had twelve guys follow him around?, it was a whole thing  @MostlyHarmless If potential donors are concerned that poor will spend money on drugs or "frivolous" stuff, give then free/cheap housing, public transportation, etc. @MostlyHarmless  @mildpeach @MostlyHarmless That sounds pretty awful. It also somewhat reminds me of the Mandate of Heaven; that the right to rule the universe (i.e. all of China) is bestowed upon just and righteous emperors during times of peace and prosperity, but revoked by natural disasters or successful rebellions.  @MostlyHarmless since possession of money seems to be the only virtue, give poor people money as quickly as possible, so they can be more virtuous. @MostlyHarmless the same reactionaries who push mask bans have flooded the country with guns. A mask is more useful for self defense and the defense of others. @MostlyHarmless Meanwhile, most income received by wealthy people is literally categorized as unearned income  @MostlyHarmless "they'll just spend it on alcohol and drugs." It's not like billionaires don't.  @MostlyHarmless This is the primary privilege of being the default. You don't have to DO anything to keep what you have or what others do not. The "working twice as hard to get half as much" even gets painted as a virtue for poor, non-white/cis/het/male non-defaults.  nobody deserves money @libramoon @MostlyHarmless What would you rather use to exchange and store value? @MostlyHarmless @MostlyHarmless Elon voted himself to get $50 million dollars and somehow everyone agrees he deserves it @MostlyHarmless @hko so connects me with this article about the different law and “justice” that poor people face in Germany  @MostlyHarmless I don't know about you, but I mostly ask that about people that already have a lot, and corporations.  @MostlyHarmless I mean they won't be able to keep it for long. Poor people spend a higher percentage of their money than rich people. (Those just store it.) @MostlyHarmless yeah, capitalistic societies where capitalism has become religion have elaborate mechanisms to create a blind spot for that question except to degrade poor people. @MostlyHarmless leaving that aside. When we're talking about the bare minimum money to live with safety and dignity, the idea that anyone at all might possibly “not deserve” that is repulsive |
@MostlyHarmless
I noticed years ago that the absolutely most unquestionably deserved money in the world is the inheritance of children of extremely wealthy people.