Why is it socially acceptable to hoard wealth while so many of us go without basic needs ?

Question

Why is it socially acceptable to hoard wealth while so many of us go without basic needs ?

Answer 1

Because everyone is told to call these people things like "entrepeneurs" and "wealth creators" rather than "greedy robbing b@stards".

If Scrooge were alive today (yeah, I know he was a fictional character, but he was based on real city plutocrats), he'd be the star of his own reality tv series and would be advising the government on economic policy.

Answer 2

Nobody ever said the world was a fair place. People who have money are not told what they should do with it and so they shouldn't.  It is their money and they can do what they like with it.

I have nothing against the rich, it is what they do with the money they have, that is the important thing, not how much it is.

It is nobody's job to tell others how to spend what they have, no matter how unacceptable the way they spend it is.

Answer 3

Wealth is knowledge, knowledge is the true power without it you can never gain wealth unless you inherit, even then, without knowledge you would soon lose that wealth.

We are fortunate in the west as many things are placed before us on a plate therefore it is up to us to attend the feast and increase our knowledge so generating the wealth we seek.

The real rub comes I feel when the time comes to pass on that wealth, do we consider the waster or do we become philanthropic and set up worthy causes which are often seen by some to be a free meal ticket by the guys who run things or should we turn our wealth over to the state and hope that they will deal out the meal to the needy...wealth is a headache.

So the best thing is create enough for yourself and close family and educate them enough so they can forage on their own two feet.

Answer 4

The reason is that the people who are hoarding their wealth earned their wealth.  The truth of the matter is that the wealthy pay far more income tax than any other group and I feel that if they want to hang on to what the government leaves them it is their business.  You might also want to remember that the wealthy create jobs and donate huge amounts of money to many charitable organizations.  If you are going without basic needs go out find a job or find better paying job.  Get more education do what ever it takes to improve your life and quit worrying about what the rich are doing.

Answer 5

There will always be rich and poor people in every society and every country, There will always be people who are jealous of these rich people simply because they have not had the brains or hard work to achieve this. What they do with their money is only their business. Griping about it will achieve nothing.  

Answer 6

It's hard to answer Q's like this without being accused of the politics of envy.

I'm not condoning benefit fraud for one single minute but I can see why say someone who is working and earning the minimum wage and getting tax credits might lie about a partner cohabiting or income whatever than a wealthy person ducking and diving around the tax system.

For the 'benefit' couple their 'lies' may be funding a utility bill or clothes for their kids whereas the wealthy person is just ..well..greedy.

I think I've used a bit of a rubbish example there but you get my drift!

I also think the notion of the people with wealth are the ones who have grafted in life and the poorer work shy is abhorrent. People who have considerable wealth should be no more vilified than the poor but I personally couldn't 'hoard' money when so many go without but that's easy for me to say...cos I'm permanently skint!!!

Answer 7

There are many ways to look at this but when I see wealthy Arabs spending zillions on a football club, when there are very poor people within spitting distance of them, well it just beggars belief.

Actually I just want to spit.  

And I am a sometimes supporter of the said football club!!!!!!!

Answer 8

I think it's socially acceptable because people who we deem to "hoard" wealth have most likely worked hard to earn the money they have and I for one cannot begrudge them that.

The basic truth is people can do with their hard earned cash what they like.  I wouldn't have people tell me how to spend my money so I wouldn't dream of telling others.

Answer 9

i think you have to give the specifics of what you are talking about

i generally agree with janice, the 'wealthy' contribute towards society through paying tax and creating jobs, and that generally has a knock on effect of helping everyone through improving the economy.

socialists will talk about how immoral it is and we should increase taxation on some individuals and companies, and wheras i dont rule that out totally, it is perfectly legitimate and legal to find loopholes to avoid paying tax - for example you can relocate your business HQ to Ireland to pay lower corporation taxes - as one huge media company did recently, it was only a change made on paper, and now this country loses out, so there is some kind of line the people in charge have to decide on which is best for the country, if you raise taxes, then companies etc ... will find a way of avoiding it.

as unfair as i think that may be, that is the way it is - that is why the government has looked for more non-income based methods of taxation - ie fuel - to raise its revenue, so people cant avoid paying it

if the 'us' put more effort into dragging themselves up, perhaps that is the solution rather than seeking more punitive measures for people with money

Answer 10

Because people r greedy. It's in our nature to be selfish. Big up 2 those of u who do charity and volunteer work as so much of it goes unnoticed, and you do it for nothing but to help these people. Hats of to u all no matter how small a deed you done

Answer 11

I don't think it is acceptable.  I think the very rich should be encouraged to give to charities and charitable foundations to support museums, galleries, universities, the environment, creating public spaces, supporting the poor in bettering themselves, and so forth.  If they were seen to spread their wealth around, perhaps there would be less resentment and envy and more general happiness.

Yeah right, dream on ;o)

Answer 12

the world is a selfish and cruel place

Answer 13

well perhaps the people who hoard wealth actually worked for it, and now don';t want to give it away. And those that don't have it, can at least work, or most can. You are suggesting that everyone that has wealth should be a philanthropist and distribute what they have, well the world doesn't work that way

Answer 14

some go out to work to earn to fund their basic needs and try to put a little away to cover lean times

some sit on their butts looking for hand outs and whining about the unfairness and inequality of life

that's why

Answer 15

What I go out to work for and earn , in all weathers and at night too, I regard as mine.

If you want it, go work for it like everyone else does.

If half the world gave away their hard earned cash, the other half would be siting on their butts expecting it.

Apart from basic needs, everything else is a bonus and has to be worked for.

Answer 16

the haves have and the have nots dont and never the twain shall meet! so  why not get a job and finance a new education enroll into a course you might get an even better job and you can give some money away to help the idle worthless work-shy junkies of the world on top of all the tax you already pay on their beharf

Answer 17

It was always that way!! The rich got richer while the poor got poorer!!

Answer 18

The only way to truly "hoard" wealth, today, is to literally stuff your mattress full of money. Otherwise, money is invested and helps the economy. If you've earned the wealth, or even if you've inherited it, it's yours to do with as you choose. Instead of being envious, you might want to emulate those who are successful!