I think rich people want more than just yachts. They want the power to buy things our democracy said were "not for sale." The ability to treat people terribly, to get away with crimes bc they are rich. The fawning. The ability to terrify people into doing what they want. No consequences.
Awful people exist at every income level—wealth doesn’t create cruelty, it just expands the menu. Power gives more ways to act on who you already are, for better or worse. The real issue is accountability, not just affluence.
I’ve worked for two billionaires for years. They don’t get that way by being nice people. They don’t become nice people afterwards. If you had a choice between sharing the prosperity of a company people gave their lives for, and keeping it all for you, what would you choose? Billionaires know.
Some sociopaths claw their way up—driven, ruthless, tireless. Others are typical, unmotivated, and coast on charm or fear. The common thread isn’t brilliance; it’s detachment. When people are just levers or liabilities, sharing was never on the table.
Oh, yes, I agree with you there. I only meant that a lot of people think "all of this mess, just for some tax breaks for rich people so they can buy more yachts." A powerful chunk of very wealthy Trump backers support him on the understanding that they will not be held accountable under Trump.