Why do people allways expect rich people to give their hard earned money to people that need it?

Question

It's like people with lesser money then the wealthy expect them to live as if they are making $14.00 an hour. I mean seriously. They want their cadilac & big house just like how others want something that is luxurious to them.

I mean why are rich people looked upon as being selfish?

Answer 1

We live in a society that loves to show off the Nouveau Riche gallivanting around in their bling bling...and then judge them harshly for it. If the flashy tabloids are to be believed, then all rich people are selfish and materialistic...and if tabloids are to be believed then the only "rich" people worth noticing are the currently popular celebrities ranging from Paris Hilton to various hip-hop artists.

Of course, the image the magazines put out there is not strictly true...but the dull truth doesn't sell newspapers, does it?

According to the book, The Millionaire Next Door, a great number of verifiably wealthy people (especially those who are truly considered "Old Money") are pretty much like you and me...they tend to live low profile lifestyles, and they shun pretentiousness and being ostentatious. For example, Warren Buffett is a billionare, but he's known for his frugality. He drives an older non-luxury car, and insists that his kids work for a living rather than living off any trust funds.

There are many wealthy people who are very much into philanthropy, and they take the old saying saying "Noblesse Oblige" to heart. It means it is the duty of the wealthy to help those who are less fortunate...and many of them do that.  

I've put a link to a list of very wealthy people who are known for their charitable giving. Some of them have modest lifestyles, others a bit more showy.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_phi...

Bono, Oprah, Bill Gates and the late Brooke Astor are four well known philanthropists. Mrs. Astor alone gave away MILLIONS of dollars to help the poor in NYC, and she while she did have something of a "glamorous" lifestyle, she wasn't afraid to go in there and get her hands dirty either!  

Those who are making $14/hr or less and are making statements like what you describe are simply jealous because they are not rich themselves, and are just behaving in the classic "dog in the manger" sense. As for me, I don't begrudge anyone their wealth... because I know that money doesn't always bring personal happiness.

Answer 2

I agree.. Don't get me wrong, I'd help my family any way I could, but there are definitely those who don't want to get of their butts and work for anything yet they want all of the same benefits as those who work hard. I'm truly sick of the "entitlement" mentality that so many people seem to have.. One does not DESERVE anything that they have not EARNED!

Answer 3

That's true, my mother is from a poor background but worked tooth and nail to become a defense attorney and then she had all these relatives suddenly contacting her, fair-weather relatives is what I call them, they got upset when she told them to work their way up cause she wasn't going to share but nobody OWES money to anyone. If you earn it, keep it, decide what to do with it, it's not anyone elses choice. You reap what you sew. People should be allowed to enjoy the benefits of their own hard work without feeling guilty about not lending to others who never worked as hard.

Answer 4

because their rich...I'm not saying for them to give money to people who are lazy...i mean if i were rich i would help people who REALLY need it like the children in Africa it makes me cry to see them on tv :(

I hate people who always ask for money who are too lazy to earn it themselves...