No, not little fish becoming billionaires. It's a sliding... scale. I'd like to do away with billionaires as we know them today. "As we know them today" would mean undertaxed and buying politicians. We said we wouldn't have a king when we founded this country. An oligarchy is basically the same thing and if they have virtually unchecked power, they're de facto royalty.
Socialism has failed, but not in a vacuum. The US has worked hard to undermine socialist regimes for more than a century. Where a socialist economy and a totalitarian govt coexist, the former is compromised anyway. Plus, capitalism has definitely failed a growing number of Americans. The American Dream is less attainable than it used to be.
We generally agree on the section I deleted. Generally.
I don't believe that someone being richer than me really makes a difference in my quality of life. I tend to believe that being envious of others creates a culture of victimhood. I would however, like you, like to see their influence in government policy be lessened, which can only be achieved through legislation. This, neither you or I can claim high ground on.
I tend to believe that the government intervening in Capitalism has failed Americans more than Capitalism itself. You're not wrong about the American dream being less attainable than it used to be. To an extent. It's definitely more difficult for people in their 20's to be able to make it on their own, for sure. But it is a subjective thought on what the American dream really is. The opportunity to freely provide for your family and self is the biggest part of the dream, IMO. That's still there. Though road blocks created by a combination of policy and greed do exist.
I don't mean to say this in a way to say, fvck off, or anything like that. But this discussion has ran its course. In the 10 years of our interactions, I feel like this is legitimately the first time I can say we will end with a respectful ending where we can agree to disagree. Not that the opportunities weren't there before.
