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FakeNoose

(40,771 posts)

24. Sometimes they ARE good guys/gals

Wed Oct 27, 2021, 12:51 PM

Oct 2021

Many American billionaires are quietly supporting projects for the public good. They support education, the arts, culture, public health, scientific research, feeding the hungry, preserving history via archeology etc. through giving to charitable foundations. I really don't think the oligarchs of Russia or elsewhere would even consider such charitable efforts.

Our American wealthy people are (sometimes) philanthropists as well. Even when they're wrapped up in their selfishness, they're not all bad. At least that's what I choose to think.

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Interesting that we call ours billionaires instead of oligarchs.... [View all] bluewater Oct 2021 OP

Any Billionaire who avoids taxes should be in prison for life at140 Oct 2021 #1

It doesent take brains I_UndergroundPanther Oct 2021 #7

All absolute statements refuted by facts. I mean ALL. Come on. Hortensis Oct 2021 #16

But there are some American oligarchs, right? bluewater Oct 2021 #19

None, Bluewater. Oligarchs rule. Our uberwealthy don't -- not yet! Hortensis Oct 2021 #29

Nope, oligarchs can just have undue influence, they don't have to "rule" bluewater Oct 2021 #31

If wealth was acquired by legal means at140 Oct 2021 #53

Bill Gates was not born rich at140 Oct 2021 #51

Some just come in on the ground floor. rickyhall Oct 2021 #57

This message was self-deleted by its author tenderfoot Nov 2021 #62

Gates wasn't born into Rockefeller wealth but he was very far from being impoverished tenderfoot Nov 2021 #63

Bill Gates' family was rich kcr Nov 2021 #64

Avoid ≠ Evade Zeitghost Oct 2021 #50

I politely disagree at140 Oct 2021 #52

That's pretty much exactly what I said Zeitghost Nov 2021 #60

Where do you think charity money goes? at140 Nov 2021 #61

Why not ''robberbarons'', or at least ''neo-robberbarons''? empedocles Oct 2021 #2

It's easier to blame someone from outside the US than to focus on our own. jalan48 Oct 2021 #3

Even further CrackityJones75 Oct 2021 #4

and we refuse to call it a plutocracy JT45242 Oct 2021 #5

I don't...I call them social parasites pecosbob Oct 2021 #6

I think they are parasites too. I_UndergroundPanther Oct 2021 #8

Happens all the time. Caliman73 Oct 2021 #9

Avg joe doesn't know whan an oligarch is, but knows what a billionaire is. n/t thesquanderer Oct 2021 #10

I think the average Joe does know exactly what an oligarch is... bluewater Oct 2021 #11

The countries political scientists use that term for, though, Hortensis Oct 2021 #25

The definition is : "a very rich business leader with a great deal of political influence" bluewater Oct 2021 #27

But if ours are oligarchs, what do we call rulers of oligarchys? Hortensis Oct 2021 #32

You are conflating individuals (oligarchs) and a political system (an oligarchy) bluewater Oct 2021 #33

The acculturation and hoarding of cash is a mental illness rampant amongst the morbidly rich. Magoo48 Oct 2021 #12

We dont live in a sane culture I_UndergroundPanther Oct 2021 #38

This message was self-deleted by its author Magoo48 Oct 2021 #13

We pretend that our are champions rather than criminals Orrex Oct 2021 #14

Bloated leeches. dchill Oct 2021 #15

Except for the space exploration part, with you. Don't see Russian oligarchs advancing science. Alexander Of Assyria Oct 2021 #17

I call them scoundrels. Edim Oct 2021 #18

Don't believe the sarcasm icon was necessary KS Toronado Oct 2021 #20

Oligarchs are political operatives who were given significant wealth and power (mafia bosses). waterwatcher123 Oct 2021 #21

Well, if you admit you have oligarchs Farmer-Rick Oct 2021 #22

They used to be called "millionaires and billionaires". NurseJackie Oct 2021 #23

Then people realized a billionaire is 1,000 time richer than a millionaire. lol bluewater Oct 2021 #30

I wonder why they were demonized... NurseJackie Oct 2021 #35

Increasing wealth disparity is what's changed. bluewater Oct 2021 #36

I wonder why the demonization of millionaires didn't stop sooner. NurseJackie Oct 2021 #37

Probably people not keeping up with inflation, right? bluewater Oct 2021 #40

Or when the loudest critics themselves become millionaires... NurseJackie Oct 2021 #42

Millionairehood creeps up on people in their old age... I blame the housing bubble. lol bluewater Oct 2021 #44

Among other things... NurseJackie Oct 2021 #46

But President Biden was the poorest US Senator. bluewater Oct 2021 #48

He's an excellent leader that other Senators should model themselves after. NurseJackie Oct 2021 #55

Sometimes they ARE good guys/gals FakeNoose Oct 2021 #24

Actually...Oligarch's in Russia do support various charity, programs, etc. in Russia. Xolodno Oct 2021 #54

Our oligarchs are job creators trickling down IronLionZion Oct 2021 #26

Robber barons - another term that applies. calimary Oct 2021 #28

I have never understood the super rich. The Jungle 1 Oct 2021 #34

They Call Them Billionaires... ProfessorGAC Oct 2021 #39

Not all billionaires are oligarchs. bluewater Oct 2021 #43

Yup. Funny, that. Dave says Oct 2021 #41

I heard the term "American Oligarchs" for the first time on the radio this morning. Maru Kitteh Oct 2021 #45

How is the U.S. an oligarchy? betsuni Oct 2021 #47

The US is not an oligarchy, but it definitely has oligarchs. bluewater Oct 2021 #49

That's true bucolic_frolic Oct 2021 #56

Well, our overlords must have their spaceships dalton99a Oct 2021 #58

They work towards the same goals. Kid Berwyn Oct 2021 #59