this post was submitted on 18 Aug 2023
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Unpopular Opinion

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Hatred often makes you want to hurt people, but people hurt peope in the name of greed more often, and not only with less potential for guilt, but is often the cause of delusional accolades and reassurance both from within oneself and from others.

Hypothetical:

A CEO lays off 10,000 employees that helped that company succeed, solely to increase earnings and not because the company is hurting, not only seriously hurting 9,997 people, but causing 3 to commit suicide.

A bumpkin gets in a fight with someone he hates the melanin of because he's a moron and kills them.

Who did more damage to humanity that day? They're both, I want to say evil but evil is subjective, they're both highly antisocial, knowingly harmful behaviors, yet one correctly sends you to prison for a long time if not forever, while the other, far more premeditated and quite literally calculated act, is literally rewarded and partied about. Jim Kramer gives you a shout out on tv, good fucking times amirite!

Edit: and this felt relevant to post after someone tried to lecture me about equating layoffs to murder.

"Coca-Cola killed trade unionists in Latin America. General Motors built vehicles known to catch fire. Tobacco companies suppressed cancer research. And Boeing knew that its planes were dangerous. Corporations don't care if they kill people — as long as it's profitable."

https://jacobin.com/2020/01/corporations-profit-values-murder-culture-boeing

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[–] [email protected] 103 points 1 year ago (2 children)

When I hoard it's a mental illness.

When billionaire hoards he's just successful.

Bullshit

[–] [email protected] 59 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (28 children)

Hoards newspapers

People harmed: themselves

Society's Verdict: Mentally ill

Hoards capital

People harmed: innumerable exploited employees deprived of receiving most of the value they produce.

Society's Verdict: virtuous job creator, titan of industry, esteemed member of the business community, role model

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[–] [email protected] 98 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's actually a fantastic way to word what I've been thinking about for years. Greed crimes.

I don't know where you're from, but as an American, I'd rally for that to be an amendment.

[–] [email protected] 21 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I’m gonna start asking for this as much as possible.

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[–] [email protected] 67 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Unpopular opinion?

Bro if you run on that I'll campaign for you.

[–] [email protected] 38 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Seconded, greed crimes is a stroke of genius, lets get OP into office.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The term "profiteering" means just that.

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[–] [email protected] 24 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm flattered, sincerely.

That said, if someone as likeable as Bernie couldn't get any traction, my abrasive ass wouldn't help matters.

[–] [email protected] 11 points 1 year ago

yeah,
popular != successful

especialy "popular amongst lefty computer geeks"

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[–] [email protected] 27 points 1 year ago

I’d argue greed is a hate crime. A crime against humanity too.

[–] [email protected] 20 points 1 year ago

I think this will be a pretty popular opinion here, but in society at large it’s definitely unpopular.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 1 year ago

Some historical perspective as it relates to greed:

During some of the United States’ most prosperous times, the marginal income tax rates were higher (topping out around 90%!) and executive compensation was no more than ~20x the average worker pay.

Now, marginal tax rates and capital gains rates are so low, the wealthy often pay the lowest effective rates (sometimes less than 10%). And executive pay is simply off the charts at 300x, 500x, even 700x median pay.

https://www.epi.org/publication/ceo-compensation-2018/

The problem is greed and its manifestation as tax and corporate policy. Basic tax reform and implementing new corporate regulations can and would fix many issues plaguing this country.

Those in poverty would be lifted out by higher wages and adequate social safety nets. The growth of a thriving middle class creates a premier labor force, allows people to innovate and start new businesses, and creates additional private support networks that reduces stress on government programs.

It even helps the elite by letting them live in a prosperous country where they don’t have to step over people dying in the streets to go to their entertainment spots. Theft and crimes of desperation decrease as stability increases. Labor is more educated and healthy. They don’t have to drive on roads with defunct bridges. On and on.

We are all in this together. It’s time to act like it. We’ve done it before and we can do it again.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

they're bothsupposedly "deadly sins"; i'm just not sure if it isn't people other than the sinners who get the death part of the deal.

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[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

Why not. We already have lust crimes too

[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago

Well, agreed, but you can't reform greed out of capitalism.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Greed has often been described as equally evil to hate. As Robert Frost put it:

Some say the world will end in fire,

Some say in ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire

I hold with those who favor fire.

But if it had to perish twice,

I think I know enough of hate

To say that for destruction ice

Is also great

And would suffice.

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