The rich are different — and not in a good way...

LadyJazzer wrote: Still thinking that "trickle down" is going to work....? rofllol

Europe does. They have been decreasing the taxes on their richest.

:thumbsup: Luckily Obama is in charge instead of you and the "rich" will continue to be taxed at a reasonable rate.

I think this is rather easily explained without resorting to partisan "causes".

My guess is that most of the rich people in this study were "self-made". And yes, I think it is very possible, even likely, that many if not most "self-made" millionaires are more apt to have less empathy for the poor than others. Why? Because in order to become a self-made millionaire, it is absolutely essential that you believe that you can control your own destiny. If you don't have that belief, you won't even try to become rich, and if you don't try, the odds of it happening are pretty much zero.

But there is a dark flip side to that belief. It follows that if you believe you can change your destiny, then you are also likely to believe that those who are not as successful are that way through their own fault. And in part, there is truth in this, but it does blind a person to the fact that some people, no matter how they try, did not have the advantages you had. Advantages in upbringing, advantages in education, advantages in native intelligence, advantages in health and energy levels.

Years ago in my career I dealt mostly with the wealthy, that is, multi-millionaires. It was interesting in that you could almost always tell the difference between someone who had earned their wealth and those who had inheirited it. Even though people scoff at "trust fund babies", they usually were much less entitled and arrogant than the "self made". Clueless, perhaps as to how the other half lived, but not actually scornful and arrogant towards the lower classes the way many self-made millionaires were.

I've run into many of the wealthy class who feel their wealth is a reward from God and that the poor deserve their fate. I point out to them that this runs precisely counter to the teachings of our Lord. It saddens me that the Republican party has takena pro-rich anti- poor position as that is in direct opposition to my faith. This would bother me less if most of those who took this position didn't simultaneously claim to be Christian.

AspenValley wrote: I think this is rather easily explained without resorting to partisan "causes".

My guess is that most of the rich people in this study were "self-made". And yes, I think it is very possible, even likely, that many if not most "self-made" millionaires are more apt to have less empathy for the poor than others. Why? Because in order to become a self-made millionaire, it is absolutely essential that you believe that you can control your own destiny. If you don't have that belief, you won't even try to become rich, and if you don't try, the odds of it happening are pretty much zero.

But there is a dark flip side to that belief. It follows that if you believe you can change your destiny, then you are also likely to believe that those who are not as successful are that way through their own fault. And in part, there is truth in this, but it does blind a person to the fact that some people, no matter how they try, did not have the advantages you had. Advantages in upbringing, advantages in education, advantages in native intelligence, advantages in health and energy levels.

Years ago in my career I dealt mostly with the wealthy, that is, multi-millionaires. It was interesting in that you could almost always tell the difference between someone who had earned their wealth and those who had inheirited it. Even though people scoff at "trust fund babies", they usually were much less entitled and arrogant than the "self made". Clueless, perhaps as to how the other half lived, but not actually scornful and arrogant towards the lower classes the way many self-made millionaires were.

Once again a very thoughtful and astute post. I can relate to much of what you characterize. I'm no millionaire, far from it. What I do have is because I'm self made. I do own a perception that you are not relegated to your poor position by simply putting work into it. Some of the advantages you list I do not consider sound. Education is something you can go after. It is another self made advantage and upbringing you can also overcome. I had never considered native intelligence, health or energy levels as advantages and certainly can see how that could be.

Perhaps if you truly are a self-made millionaire, you loose sight of your roots. Since I'm not in that category, I've not lost sight of my roots and have considerable compassion and empathy for the poor. I'm clueless about "trust fund babies". Thanks for the enlightenment. I do enjoy your thoughtful postings. You constantly give me cause for pause and reason to re-examine my thoughts.

chickaree wrote: I've run into many of the wealthy class who feel their wealth is a reward from God and that the poor deserve their fate. I point out to them that this runs precisely counter to the teachings of our Lord. It saddens me that the Republican party has takena pro-rich anti- poor position as that is in direct opposition to my faith. This would bother me less if most of those who took this position didn't simultaneously claim to be Christian.

It is interesting to see how modern Christianity has deviated from the early Church. Maybe because of Prostestanism? The nations that are mainly Protestant or Jewish tend to be more successful financially than Catholic or Islamic based nations. Is there something to this?

And it will be interesting to see as Europe becomes more secular, will they still be as succesful as when they were Protestant nations? Or more successful than when they were Catholic nations?

SS109 wrote: It is interesting to see how modern Christianity has deviated from the early Church.

What I think is going to be interesting is to watch the mega-churches that are based on "prosperity doctrine" and "name it and claim" it theology collapse with the economy.

AspenValley wrote:

SS109 wrote: It is interesting to see how modern Christianity has deviated from the early Church.

What I think is going to be interesting is to watch the mega-churches that are based on "prosperity doctrine" and "name it and claim" it theology collapse with the economy.

I know where you can pick up a "Crystal Cathedral" pretty cheap....and a couple of "creationist" theme parks....

I don't think most of the people on here know any self made wealthy individuals. Just because you worked for one does not give you an understanding. Unless you are yourself self made and wealthy- You'll have to hang out with them- away from any business matters, to know them personally.

I think many people who are self made know how hard work and determination can get you up the wealth ladder. Also saving and investing and doing without while others party it up. Delayed gratification is a indicator of high level thinking- many people want it now. After you have gone down this road, one does tend to lose empathy for those who didn't have what it took to get ahead.

But also- one comes to the realization that you can't save the world. Hell, you cant even save yourself. You can try to insure yourself against every bad curve that life throws at you, but even a millionaire would go broke buying all the insurance one would need to protect yourself from all the possible risks. One has to take a risk in life- that's reality.

Some people get a bad break- bad health could be one of those. If you spend all your time trying to make the world a fair place to live, you will die very sad. Life is not fair here on this planet. While I'd like to help every person who needs help- I need to look after my own interests first. The best help we can give those less fortunate- is an opporunity to improve their situation. Governments solution does not address this at all. Government creates dependancy- and that's why many wealthy self made people object to a government solution.

Give a man a fish- fed him for a day, teach a man to fish- you fed him for a life. Government only gives a man a fish. Freedom liberty and opportunity feeds men for a life. The wealthy people I know prefer the life long solution.

The most arrogant people I know are the ones who inherit wealth. They have the least understanding of what it takes to earn your way up. It's mainly their job to spend what daddy or grandpa earned, so they are disconnected. Nor do they understand what it's like to have gone without. They are much more likely to be liberals - and not conservatives. I know several trust fund babies personally.

But I know many more who earned their way- they are less likely to want to give away their money to people who think they deserve it, when they don't.

We are talking about several different types of wealthy people here, my neighbor inherited more than a billion dollars- his experience is nothing at all like my father who earned his money.

Many millions of us could do better but don't. A friend of mine quit his job 8 years ago, he had a fully paid house that his mother left him when she died. He took out a $350,000 mortgage on the house - and spent it over the last 8 years, living high on the hog. Now he wants to claim bankrupt, and he wants to get approved for disability- he's not disabled!

He's lazy. How much compassion should I have for him now that he wants my tax dollars to support him - while I've been working my ass off?

He hasn't earned a thing in eight years, but he feels entitled.

I admire a self made person over a loser any day. I do not think a person who earns money and wants to keep it is greedy. That is not the definition of greedy. A greedy person is someone who feels entitled to what others have earned.

And P.S. if you are a self-made millionaire- you NEVER lose sight of your roots! It gives you an understanding of reality though, that you can't ever get anywhere else- and by any other way.

greed·y (grd)
adj. greed·i·er, greed·i·est
1. Excessively desirous of acquiring or possessing, especially wishing to possess more than what one needs or deserves.
2. Wanting to eat or drink more than one can reasonably consume; gluttonous.

BearMtnHIB wrote: I don't think most of the people on here know any self made wealthy individuals.

You're quite mistaken about that.

Definately...