this post was submitted on 25 May 2025
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bunch of greedy fucks.
greed should be a registered mental illness that's no different than OCD, schizophrenia, or PTSD.
Everybody wants interest on their savings or a return on the investment. This is pretty ingrained in society, and it forces banks to invest into companies which need to get a profit above what would be normally acceptable. Combine that with narcissist personalities and the Anglo-Saxon mindset, and you get companies that do everything for profit maximization.
Which in turn causes those companies to grow and buy out companies who do not share that sentiment, which will never grow massive.
It also doesn't help that we have been overpaying for things like hard- and software compared to the actual cost in the bookkeeping of these companies. A lot of personal time is often invested in startups that is excluded in the bookkeeping, which makes for higher profit margins. Plus, people go for the convents of things like Amazon even though it is often worse than local alternatives.
Everyone is greedy. It's just rational maximization of profits. You do too. Or would you want to voluntarily waive parts of your salary?
No they're not. Don't assume your fucked-up values are universal.
Only psychopaths and students in intro economic courses think solely in those terms.
No I don't. I chose my current job because it's technically interesting but allows me a better quality of life than the much better paying job I had before that. And it helps society rather than enriching some money-hoarders.
Don't forget the MBAs. The original motherfuckers who ruin everything.
I already have. I could make so much more money with my skillset doing incredibly antisocial things...I choose not to.
Example?
Yes, I tend to vote for increased taxes to invest in education, environment, social welfare. And yes, that includes progressive taxes that hit me harder (as long as that also applies to the wealthy), and vice taxes that target my vices
In the meantime ask your boss for a lower salary so your company can make more profits.
Hopefully you can see the difference between working for someone else profit, vsinvestments in all of our well being and a more fair tax structure
Every country needs a more fair tax structure. Sadly a lot of people don't seem to get that here in NL (among other countries). Even the left doesn't really want to fix it. since increasing social security for the lower class makes it so the middle class pay a lot more taxes percentage wise.
In the US we do that to some extent but not for the wealthy. Somehow we ended up with upper middle class paying the highest rate, then tax rates dropping as you get wealthy. It’s fair that I pay a higher rate than someone with less income, but very much not fair that I pay a higher tax rate than wealthy people
Is that actual rates? Or is the looking at different kind of taxes? I was talking about income tax + social security if you get it.
People with massive company structures can always pay less tax. Or at least less at this point in time. The only way to change rhis if every country works together to fix it
Effective rates
For example if you were like Elon Musk, the richest person in the world (sometimes) who gets little to no salary and is paid mainly with stock options, you’d pay at most 37% on your salary, same as any basic millionaire but the bulk of your income would count as long term capital gains and taxed at 20%, lowering your effective rate. Even better, you could take loans against your stock and never “realize” the gains so never pay taxes on it.
There are many other tricks you can pull to count your income as other that income and taxed at a lower rate. Last time we had that debate, Warren Buffet, another of the richest men in the world wrote an opinion piece in support of changes that he could take advantage such that he paid a lower effective tax rate than his secretary. Nice try but quickly disappeared under a flood of propaganda from other rich people
Technically anyone could be paid in stock like Elon musk, and live off loans on stock like Elon musk, and pay a much lower effective tax rate like Elon musk, but it’s a practical Impossibility for most of us
Technically we could all form a trust like the Kennedys and many other wealthy families, hold all of our assets. The trust has several ways to avoid taxes and i believe is taxed at the corporate rate, which is also now lower than personal tax rates. And the trust can cover all of our expenses and write them off from its income, while we owe little to no income tax. Realistically most of us couldn’t afford the lawyers to make that happen much less the prerequisites to dodge the taxes
So there is levels to greediness? You can call for higher taxes to have your conscience clear so you can be greedy elsewhere?
Everyone is greedy. Nobody wants less income if it affects their quality of life.
True, but there’s no reason that can’t coexist with a sense of fairness, and witha long term greater good
Of course I don’t want to pay more taxes. However I realize I’ve been more successful than some, and a more progressive tax scheme is fair. I realize I have vices and don’t mind if there is a discouragement, as long as it applies to everyone fairly. I realize my success is based on a successful society and understand it is only fair to leave society in at least as good condition as I found it. Most importantly I have kids so I’m all for building a better future for them …. And understand that includes the society they will live in, the environment they will live in
No, most people do not seek out competitor businesses (or even businesses in other sectors like in this case) so they can fire all the human workers in the hope of making more money.
Non-tax-deductable donations are a voluntary waiver of salary. Most people have ethics and a conscience, its just the greedy minority that fuck it up for the community-minded majority.
No, it really isn't. It is rational to consider all upsides and downsides (profit just being one) of a decision and then weigh them according to your own personal priorities before trying to achieve an optimal result. This very rarely results in profits being the only priority.
There is a difference between wanting to live comfortably, which is rational, and actively seeking ways to exploit others for your own gain beyond what you need to live. Greed isn't "I want to have enough", it's "I can never have enough".
Society has always thrived on a measure of generosity. So many cultures have customs around giving gifts, because that's how you build a support network of people that will help you out when you need it. Greed is shortsighted and destructive.
Depends on the reason. If the waived amount goes to paying for healthcare, support someone suddenly unemployed or maintain infrastructure that I or other people need? Sure.
A huge portion of the Netherlands works part time by choice. So, yes, many people voluntarily waive parts of their salary.
Working less is not the same as waiving your salary. It just means you aleady have enough money for a good quality of life.
An altruistic person that is not greedy would reject their salary, knowning that it will worsen their quality of life. Nobody would do that because everyone is greedy for a better life of their own.
I would if I could have healthcare, but US.
That profit comes from externalizing pain to others while capturing their livelihoods.
To call not doing that "voluntary waiving parts of your salary" is incredibly manipulative.
First these people aren't salaried, they're mercenaries, and of course their "compensation structure" ensures they're largely free of the tax burden that the people they prey on have to endure.
Second, just because you can do sonething doesn't mean it's the rigth thing to do. Not that these people have had a moral belief once in their lives.
It is reallt aberrant all the evils that have been laundered in the name if money.
I think the better question is why do we allow these sick individuals to carelessly wield chainsaws around us?