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

Yeah.

+4

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.

Some of the biggest charity foundations have been created by those trust fund babies. But some of them are also set up by the original wealth creators.

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.

Some of the biggest charity foundations have been created by those trust fund babies. But some of them are also set up by the original wealth creators.

I worked as a temp for the Rose community foundation for a few months. Most of people who had the top jobs were "trust fund babies" and were as nice as could be and very caring.

The board is a mix of both self-made and trust-fund. Very good people.

So many people define themselves based on what they do for a living or their net worth. That is not who you are, it is what you do. People have forgotten how to live.

towermonkey wrote: So many people define themselves based on what they do for a living or their net worth. That is not who you are, it is what you do. People have forgotten how to live.

But the Left will continue to villify people for being successful. Even if they do create more jobs than the poor.

SS109 wrote:

towermonkey wrote: So many people define themselves based on what they do for a living or their net worth. That is not who you are, it is what you do. People have forgotten how to live.

But the Left will continue to villify people for being successful. Even if they do create more jobs than the poor.

Thinking a person who earns more should pay more in taxes is not "vilifying".

SS109 wrote:

towermonkey wrote: So many people define themselves based on what they do for a living or their net worth. That is not who you are, it is what you do. People have forgotten how to live.

But the Left will continue to villify people for being successful. Even if they do create more jobs than the poor.

I think you missed my point in your attempt to make my statement into some partisan rhetoric. How many people have you known who lay on their death bed and say "I should have spent more time at work..."?

towermonkey wrote:

SS109 wrote:

towermonkey wrote: So many people define themselves based on what they do for a living or their net worth. That is not who you are, it is what you do. People have forgotten how to live.

But the Left will continue to villify people for being successful. Even if they do create more jobs than the poor.

I think you missed my point in your attempt to make my statement into some partisan rhetoric. How many people have you known who lay on their death bed and say "I should have spent more time at work..."?

Good point. And maybe that has something to do with how angry and anxious many "self-made" people are as they get older. They let making money become their WHOLE LIFE so all they have is their money. I'm not talking about people who worked hard and saved their money and once they can afford it they retire and enjoy themselves, I'm talking about the people who are clearly obsessed with their money - to the point where they fume and roar in fury on message boards at the very thought of "takers" getting any of it.