How is living the uber lifestyle fair?

[Super-Surprise]

I don't know much about the Über lifestyle, but how is it fair to traditional peoples of the world? The regulations of taxes are strict. Inequality can cost hundreds of thousands of lives in addition to defacing the earth. So, again, how is it fair, irrespective of your opinion of the quality of your lifestyle?

http://greenbuzzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/streets-of-monaco-yacht-1.jpg
http://atlanticyachtandship.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Yacht1.jpg

http://img.secretchina.com/dat/media/15/2013/12/20/20131220193821478.jpg

http://constative.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eclipse-Yacht.jpg

http://cdn2.list25.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/historysupreme.png http://cdn.list25.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/said.png

http://cdn.list25.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/maltese.png http://cdn4.list25.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/mars.png

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/08/1f/a7/081fa788c36607b274e43a4199a5ebb5.jpg http://happypix.co.in/files/funzug/imgs/luxury/tripical_island_yacht_01.jpg

 

[Noor]

I don't know much about the Über lifestyle, but how is it fair to traditional peoples of the world? The regulations of taxes are strict. Inequality can cost hundreds of thousands of lives in addition to defacing the earth. So, again, how is it fair, irrespective of your opinion of the quality of your lifestyle?

http://greenbuzzz.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/streets-of-monaco-yacht-1.jpg
http://atlanticyachtandship.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/Yacht1.jpg

http://img.secretchina.com/dat/media/15/2013/12/20/20131220193821478.jpg

http://constative.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/Eclipse-Yacht.jpg

http://cdn2.list25.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/historysupreme.png http://cdn.list25.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/said.png

http://cdn.list25.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/maltese.png http://cdn4.list25.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/mars.png

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/08/1f/a7/081fa788c36607b274e43a4199a5ebb5.jpg http://happypix.co.in/files/funzug/imgs/luxury/tripical_island_yacht_01.jpg

I think it is complicated. I suppose everyone wants to think if they earn enough money they can live as they please, that is what drives most people to improve their lives.
If you take away the super rich, where do you draw the line?

I am all for everyone paying taxes, either the same percent on their income or a graduated tax rate where the higher you are from poverty level the higher a percentage you pay. The other option is to just have a flat rate tax on all luxury items, anything beyond food, clothing, transportation and housing of a certain amount pays no tax and after that there is a straight 25% tax, so the uber rich toys would be generating tax income.
The other thing about the uber rich is they do employ people and often keep traditional trades going like tailoring, woodworking, boat making and such. They are not spending their money on products that they have to farmed out to the cheapest possible labor.
Not sure about fairness. If I am making minimum wage, is it unfair that someone else is making $70,000? If I am making $70,000 is it unfair that someone else makes $150,000. People work and get educated, they make whatever they can make, I see no unfairness in that.

Politicians giving preferential treatment to certain companies like Hulberton re: burning middle east oil fields instead of putting things out to bid is unfair, but that comes back to us, we voted those guys in. If you had a company that could get special treatment, would you not take advantage of it?
I know I have an advantage as a small woman owned business in some of my contracts, is that fair? It's reverse discrimination and it benefits me, but it probably isn't fair to those who don't have my advantage.

For myself, I don't believe in conspicuous consumption and I don't date those that do, but I don't think it is necessarily unfair that people can do that.

 

[Noor]

Sorry, I forgot to address the traditional peoples of the world.

We all stem from those peoples, and unless we come from a fairly socialist community everyone wants to advance and have a better life than their predecessors. Also they want a better life for their children.
Some societies have advanced more quickly than others, so I don't think people being rich is unfair to them.
What I do think is unfair is knocking down parts of the Amazon basin at the expense of the indigenous peoples who live there for the benefit of the government. Yes, it’s the big companies doing the knocking, but the government sells them the land and gives them the permits.

an aside
Byron would have been tickled pink to see you post such a thread

 

[Conager]

"Man, if I was liven' any higher on the hog, I couldn't stand myself." -Sam Elliot as Wade Garrett in "Roadhouse."

 

[Noor]

oh, and yes, I know this is a parody thread, I wanted to support GFY's in their non picture thread

 

[Conager]

oh, and yes, I know this is a parody thread, I wanted to support GFY's in their non picture thread

Remember the EF Hutton ad campaign?

"When GFY speaks, people listen!"