[mydavid]

Really this is what we are talking about?

[nick demis]

There are so many things to worry about with life, this falls next to worrying about the family life of the mosquito I just smacked on my arm.

[llaran]

Justin Bieber just bought a 4th home for a billion. also an article about multimillion $ homes sitting idle for years that celebrities own.

[tvbound]

Originally Posted by llaran

Justin Bieber just bought a 4th home for a billion. also an article about multimillion $ homes sitting idle for years that celebrities own.

Bieber bought a billion dollar home? Yeah, OK. lol

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by Shadywood

I dunno... my very thought was that a lot of rich folks around here refuse to mow their lawns. Somehow it still gets done, usually by some other rich guy.

Heck, I'm so rich I can afford to live in a place where the closest thing to work I ever have to do is to drive a little car through a park and get out every now and then to whack a ball with a stick! But I bet Mr. Massey is a heck of a lot richer than me. Even the guy he pays to ride the mower is richer than 99.9% of the people who have ever been born on this planet

Personal experience would seem to indicate that capitalism continues to function just fine, even when there's no-one left but rich folks. In fact, if anything, it seems to work better when there's no socialists trying to force everyone to be equally destitute.

This is at least a part of why I started this thread.

We are rich, compared to most of the world, but at the very same time, we are very poor compared to some. I seriously doubt there are any residents of The Villages that can toss $11 million for an apartment on a boat that they will use a couple of times per year. Or spend $100 million on an underground bunker that they might need maybe someday.

My point is that having that kind of disposable income, in my not so humble opinion, results in people living in a totally different world and being completely out of touch with "our" reality.

[jog222]

Originally Posted by jonathanb

when the lord does return believe me underground bunkers will do you no good.

amen!!!

[GrumpyOldMan]

Originally Posted by llaran

Justin Bieber just bought a 4th home for a billion. also an article about multimillion $ homes sitting idle for years that celebrities own.

I can find nothing about Bieber buying a Billion dollar home. The most expensive I can find is $25 million or so. His net worth is estimated to be around $285M.

The people I am referring to are generally multi-billionaires. Multi-billionaires live in a different world than even the Biebers.

[Swoop]

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan

More and more evidence of the ultra-rich making arrangements to isolate themselves from the common rift raft and potentially survive an existential event.

New Zealand passed a law limiting the purchase of land by the ultra-rich for survival "bunkers". (Imagine extravagant luxury towers underground), because so much of their country was being bought up, and taken from its citizens.

Today I saw an article about a Yacht Liner, 730 feet, with 39 apartments ($11 million ea), bars, clubs, etc, etc., etc. A floating city, for the Richie Rich's.

So, the thought that comes to my mind, when the Apocolypse does come - climate change, war, pandemic, alien invasion, or whatever they are concerned with that wipes out the common rabble - who are the rich survivers going to exploit?

EDITED to remove a political reference that was unintended.

You apparently hold a grudge against anyone who is more successful than you in a country where everyone has the opportunity to succeed. But let’s look at it from a different perspective. There are plenty of people living outside the Villages that feel the same way about the residents of The Villages, as you do about the “Richie Rich’s”. Here’s your chance to not just talk about wealth disparity, but do something about it. Take your net worth and divide it amongst the people who resent you for having more. Not when you die - now. Not just a donation - all of it. Then you can finally shed your white wealth guilt and live out the rest of your life guilt free…

[golfing eagles]

Originally Posted by Guitarman1951

You are kidding right? Tell me that you aren't that paranoid cause if you are, you might should seek some medical help.

All I can say is, based on this thread, I am now starting a new business selling "end of the world insurance". There may be some customers here.

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan

More and more evidence of the ultra-rich making arrangements to isolate themselves from the common rift raft and potentially survive an existential event.

New Zealand passed a law limiting the purchase of land by the ultra-rich for survival "bunkers". (Imagine extravagant luxury towers underground), because so much of their country was being bought up, and taken from its citizens.

Today I saw an article about a Yacht Liner, 730 feet, with 39 apartments ($11 million ea), bars, clubs, etc, etc., etc. A floating city, for the Richie Rich's.

So, the thought that comes to my mind, when the Apocolypse does come - climate change, war, pandemic, alien invasion, or whatever they are concerned with that wipes out the common rabble - who are the rich survivers going to exploit?

EDITED to remove a political reference that was unintended.

Wow what a negative world view. Rich for many is anyone who has more than I do.
Oh and anyone who has more than I do they are evil, I of course am good.

The voice of experience. I've been poor. I am not in the top 1% but I am comfortable-whatever that means. While money may not buy happiness, in the real world it does give you far more options and it does make misery far more fun.

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan

More and more evidence of the ultra-rich making arrangements to isolate themselves from the common rift raft and potentially survive an existential event.

New Zealand passed a law limiting the purchase of land by the ultra-rich for survival "bunkers". (Imagine extravagant luxury towers underground), because so much of their country was being bought up, and taken from its citizens.

Today I saw an article about a Yacht Liner, 730 feet, with 39 apartments ($11 million ea), bars, clubs, etc, etc., etc. A floating city, for the Richie Rich's.

So, the thought that comes to my mind, when the Apocolypse does come - climate change, war, pandemic, alien invasion, or whatever they are concerned with that wipes out the common rabble - who are the rich survivers going to exploit?

EDITED to remove a political reference that was unintended.

It’s a complete waste of money. Don’t trouble your mind about it. When these supposed super-rich come out of their bunkers or dock their ships, they won’t like what they find, and what they find won’t like them.

I taught popular classes in Post-Apocalyptic Fiction for a number of years at a university. If you want a good book to read, try George Stewart’s “Earth Abides.” I think it was published in 1948, and there is a good reason it is still in print: it’s a great novel. The speaker is a very creative geologist with a graduate degree from Berkeley. He has what it takes to save civilization, if anyone does. However, there aren’t many people left alive, and the various accidents that happen kills off even more. By the end of the book, his great-grandchildren are good at hunting and gathering, but none of them can read or write.

Another thought-provoking novel is “World Made By Hand,” by Jane’s Kunstler (2008). Set in a little town north of Albany, New York, life gets gradually more dangerous and things taken for granted are no longer available. Civilization is devolving. As T.S. Eliot wrote, “This is the way the world ends: Not with a bang but with a whimper.”

Or if you want excitement, try S.M. Stirling’s novel “Dies the Fire” and the many sequels.

[Grunt 1946]

Does anyone really think the super-rich cab keep their abodes from the rabble with 123 guns (FBI statistics) for every man woman and child in America in addition, to trillions of rounds of ammo stashed away?

[DAVES]

Originally Posted by GrumpyOldMan

More and more evidence of the ultra-rich making arrangements to isolate themselves from the common rift raft and potentially survive an existential event.

New Zealand passed a law limiting the purchase of land by the ultra-rich for survival "bunkers". (Imagine extravagant luxury towers underground), because so much of their country was being bought up, and taken from its citizens.

Today I saw an article about a Yacht Liner, 730 feet, with 39 apartments ($11 million ea), bars, clubs, etc, etc., etc. A floating city, for the Richie Rich's.

So, the thought that comes to my mind, when the Apocolypse does come - climate change, war, pandemic, alien invasion, or whatever they are concerned with that wipes out the common rabble - who are the rich survivers going to exploit?

EDITED to remove a political reference that was unintended.

People who are asking about construction around here. You've seen the rain. There is a secret club, ALL ARE ALL WEALTHY, building an arc. Did you not get the flier?

Hum, on a restricted thread they are debating about food quality and entertainment.
Propulsion OIL? SOLAR? Or a bunch of 70 year old rowers.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by Grunt 1946

Does anyone really think the super-rich cab keep their abodes from the rabble with 123 guns (FBI statistics) for every man woman and child in America in addition, to trillions of rounds of ammo stashed away?

123 guns per person?


Bwahahaha! Nothing even close to that... I'd love to know where you found that "statistic"... (p.s., you're only off by a factor of 100)

Plus, I like your use of the word "rabble" for gun owners... Nice touch!

[sail33or]

The first thought I have on this is why do mega wealthy folks ALWAYS buy or build themselves GIANT homes. They could buy a say $3MM home and donate $40-50 Million to Charity. Notice just about everyone tries to get the biggest house. I was friends with a Realtor of the Year (who earned 7 figures regularly) and asked what her secret was. She said she only dealt with surgeons. She would send them pictures of what their peers just bought knowing they would have to find something bigger.

My second thought is that Capitalism is a good system (because it utilizes human's greed for generally the creation of opportunity for all) however just like the game "Monopoly" at some point there is a winner. We have reached that point where we know who the winners are in this round. They own/control all the money. So there needs to be a trophy given, money returned to the bank and start a new game.