The Super Rich

[beddo]

Watching the celebration of a the opening of a Hotel in Dubai:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7740887.stm

I wondered how people who are both religious and super rich justify their wealth among the extreme poverty in the world.

Surely attaining this kind of wealth and using it to sustain an extravagant and lavish lifestyle is at complete odds with almost all religions?

Another thing that annoys me is that it is not boycotted but instead praised by celebrities who constantly campaign to us about try to help the needy and impoverished.

What do you think?

 

[videonerd250]

It is questionable, but really, what do you expect them to do? Give away all their money and live like the rest of us while hardly making a dent in the amount of money it will take to fix anything.
I heard somewhere that the guy who sang "Cat in the Cradle" gave away his money to the point where he drove some sh**ty little buggy. Makes the man a saint if it's true, but no one knows about it (if it's true) and any possible effect it may have had has faded and then some.
My point, if I ever become rich, I'm sure as hell gonna stay rich.
/rant

 

[Amnestic]

Was it just me or did Christ Tucker's face look a bit fatter than usual in that video?

*coughs*

It's really extravagant for just a hotel. Pretty cool.

Oh, discussion about religion. Yes, I suppose for the majority of religions, it probably is at odds with the consumerist lifestyle most rich and famous people have these days. What're you going to do though? Hypocrisy is pretty much human nature these days.

 

[AuntyEthel]

Another thing that annoys me is that it is not boycotted but instead praised by celebrities who constantly campaign to us about try to help the needy and impoverished.

Well its the same when celebrities fly private jets to Live8 to tell us to stop filling our kettles too much. Celebrities just suck in general. They aren't actually people.

 

[Neosage]

Another thing that annoys me is that it is not boycotted but instead praised by celebrities who constantly campaign to us about try to help the needy and impoverished.

Well its the same when celebrities fly private jets to Live8 to tell us to stop filling our kettles too much. Celebrities just suck in general. They aren't actually people.

They are fools!

 

[Ionait]

poof

 

[beddo]

It is questionable, but really, what do you expect them to do? Give away all their money and live like the rest of us while hardly making a dent in the amount of money it will take to fix anything.
I heard somewhere that the guy who sang "Cat in the Cradle" gave away his money to the point where he drove some sh**ty little buggy. Makes the man a saint if it's true, but no one knows about it (if it's true) and any possible effect it may have had has faded and then some.
My point, if I ever become rich, I'm sure as hell gonna stay rich.
/rant

I would expect a religious person who is rich or super rich to give the majority of their money to the needy; eye of the needle and all that.

This is what Mother Teresa did, she was an aristocrat who gave up everything and devoted her life to helping the poor. We're not just talking about her possessions but she made it her life's work. Amazing.

I doubt I would have the resolve or the courage to do that. If I became rich I would want to stay reasonably wealthy but once you've got a certain amount there's almost no point in having more.

Then again, how does the Catholic church justify its vast wealth? How does the church of England justify it's investments at all let alone the ones who make bulldozers for the military, one of which was used to murder Rachel Corrie?[link]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rachel_Corrie[/link] How does it justify have senior members with links to the arms trade?

 

[beddo]

I think people who have achieved wealth, preachers or not, should be allowed to enjoy it somewhat. If someone is a good person that shouldn't mean that they have to give all they have. Good people should be rewarded by being able to keep some of their wealth and spoiling themselves a little. That being said, some celebrities don't spoil themselves a little. They do it a lot. And more than anything else. Which would make it wrong, of course, and in opposition to the views they preach and support.

But it is tricky. Who really knows how a celebrity spends every dime? I know I don't see any of their receipts.

Really, I mean Really? You think people get rich not at the expense of others?

 

[nmmoore13]

Anyone who has earned money deserves to keep it and use it in whatever way they want within the limit of the law. If you want to have huge mansions and private jets, fine, you're using your money, its within your rights. But when you step out of your mansion and fly your jet to a rally to tell me not to use so much energy, all I can respond with is a good F U.

 

[Erana]

Anyone who has earned money deserves to keep it and use it in whatever way they want within the limit of the law. If you want to have huge mansions and private jets, fine, you're using your money, its within your rights. But when you step out of your mansion and fly your jet to a rally to tell me not to use so much energy, all I can respond with is a good F U.

You really think any one persion desirves a real fortune?!
*shun*

 

[Zer_]

This kinda makes me think where all our money went that caused our economic crisis.

There's living well, and then there's just plain greed. It's the greed we all hate.

 

[cleverlymadeup]

Well its the same when celebrities fly private jets to Live8 to tell us to stop filling our kettles too much. Celebrities just suck in general. They aren't actually people.

or how some celebrities fly around in their own private jet and then tell everyone they should be environmentally conscious or play the super bowl and tell ppl they should avoid globalization and corporations

as for big money, yes they are huge hypocrites, some could easily give up a large chunk of their money and still never have to work

 

[Amnestic]

Anyone who has earned money deserves to keep it and use it in whatever way they want within the limit of the law. If you want to have huge mansions and private jets, fine, you're using your money, its within your rights. But when you step out of your mansion and fly your jet to a rally to tell me not to use so much energy, all I can respond with is a good F U.

You really think any one persion desirves a real fortune?!
*shun*

I dunno, someone who's done something crazy revolutionary and/or is part of the initial production of an incredibly popular product probably deserves some sort of monetary treasure chest for contribution to society.

 

[PersianLlama]

Watching the celebration of a the opening of a Hotel in Dubai:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/7740887.stm

I wondered how people who are both religious and super rich justify their wealth among the extreme poverty in the world.

Surely attaining this kind of wealth and using it to sustain an extravagant and lavish lifestyle is at complete odds with almost all religions?

Another thing that annoys me is that it is not boycotted but instead praised by celebrities who constantly campaign to us about try to help the needy and impoverished.

What do you think?

Ironically, being charitable is one of the 5 pillars of Islam, I believe.

 

[AuntyEthel]

or how some celebrities fly around in their own private jet and then tell everyone they should be environmentally conscious or play the super bowl and tell ppl they should avoid globalization and corporations

as for big money, yes they are huge hypocrites, some could easily give up a large chunk of their money and still never have to work

Yeah, they make a big hooha when Oprah donates $10,000 to an African charity. It might seem like a lot, but considering she has over a billion $, its like me donating 10p to charity.

What irritates me the most about it though, is that they always have to publicly air the fact they are donating money. They say "Look at me! I care!" when what they mean is "Look at me! Watch my TV show!" Its disgusting and takes the whole meaning out of charity. Its easing the guilt more than anything else.

 

[Rolling Thunder]

What enrages me are people who's money is made from not producing anything, such as:

Lawyers. God, but this is a silly proffession. It's entire motive is to, as Swift put is, pervert the course of justice. If people were simply instructed to turn up to court on a given date, and present their cases in the plainest possible language, then life would be so much easier and much more efficent.

Advertisers: well, as much as I admit that there is a need for people to know about new products, quite frankly, I think that for the most part this is simply a peversion of natural economics, by artifically creating demand and distorting market forces (and people ***** about labour unions!), usually by means of sex or sexual connotations. (Note: I have no problem with sex, but I beleive it and caramel should not mix. Except at certain, consenting-adults only parties)

Preachers: Being a wealthy man of god is both repulsive and amoral. You are taking people's money, in essence providing nothing but the promise of salvation and buying so much shit it's untrue.

 

[Zykon TheLich]

['s a 10

 

[zirnitra]

I remember a teacher telling me that one of the 5 pillars of the qu'ran was to be charitable and give a certain amount of your income to the poor. which they do therefore they can justify there extravagance perfectly.


man they throw a wicked party and all anybody can do is ***** about it.