The voice of the debate expresses the views of the writer.
What more can be said when we witness the super-rich frolicking in beautiful homes and cottages, as well as cars, private jets and yachts? And this in a world that is struggling with a lot of poverty, huge environmental problems and a terrifying war in Europe.
Click here to sign up for the Norsk debatet newsletter
It’s hard to fathom that some of these really wealthy people have hidden fortunes in tax havens or actually move into them, while a great many ordinary people in this country can barely afford their electricity bills, let alone their food. Elsewhere in the world it is much worse, where too many people are living in ignominious conditions and too many are starving.
Society is still governed by obsolete economic theories, which have largely been developed by men. They were created at a time when global warming was not part of the picture, nature and people existed to be exploited, and care work was mostly done by women who received low wages. If they got anything.
This outdated economic thinking is cynical and short-sighted in nature. Play on selfishness and greed where it is important to grab as much as possible. Hence, we risk having even more narcissists and psychopaths among the rich and powerful, with former US President, Donald Trump, as a terrifying example. Furthermore, the system is deliberately designed to make the rich even richer.
Gunnar Stavrum: Kjell Inge Røkke saved 10 billion in taxes because he didn’t trust the red-greens
This ancient economic thought is dangerous because it has contributed to the collapse of nature. A new report proves it the investments of the 125 richest billionaires pollutes per capita a million times more than the average of the poorest 90%.
It also leads to extreme inequality, which is a recipe for trouble.
Extreme inequality leads to instability and with it a danger to democracy in many places. It also brings suffering among people, such as worries, stress and other physical and mental health problems. It’s a huge waste of human resources. As a counterweight to this, a basic salary should be introduced, which Repeated research shows that it works.
Fortunately, there are more mature alternatives to today’s dysfunctional economic system. For example it is circular economy And ecological economy better for people and nature.
Recently, there was a fundraising campaign for Doctors Without Borders. It has been collected rekordmye, over 260 million. Then it might be helpful to mention that it is in Norway 444 billionaires. Only one of them could give so much. Something is terribly wrong here!
Jan Peter Sissener: Ordinary people lose when Røkke moves
I would argue that the super rich are actually using community money. This is most clearly seen when it comes to the Russian oligarchs who had much of their assets, including yachts, confiscated when the war began in Ukraine. Many of these oligarchs have become wealthy in suspicious ways.
Putin is one of them, while many Russians live poor and relatively short lives.
Therefore, stricter regulations and taxes are needed. For example, the luxury consumption tax, the financial transaction tax, the large inheritance tax and the share capital tax. There should also be a limit to how much you can earn. Even stronger incentives can be used for renewable investments, culture of sharing and ethical goods.
As usual, there is an outcry among the super-rich when proposals such as tax increases are made, but often it is simply because they are afraid of losing their privileges. But seriously, if it’s money and profit that drives them, it might be a good idea for them to reflect on what’s truly most important in this life.
In fact, a good number of millionaires and billionaires from different countries have come together and themselves proposed to tax them more. They released one earlier this year letter at the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum in Davos.
While there are a growing number of the super-rich who are taking responsibility for the world and for our common future, they are still a strong minority where most are immature and wallow in luxury – and who would rather keep it all to themselves and for themselves. your own immediate family. But what we need is to expand the concept of family to apply to all people, after all we live on the same planet.
It’s not really the super rich I’m looking for, but rather the system that allows them to exploit it and enrich themselves at the expense of others.
For example, workers of large multinational companies often become underpaid, while the owners raise money. This is where we have to do something. We have to overcome an outdated economic mentality and outdated attitudes. An example is the myth that the wealth created by the rich will trickle down to the common people. The reality is that too often they drip into one’s pocket.
We are approaching Christmas, and then mature people know that it is a joy to give. In this country, fortunately, there are several mature superwealths that provide a lot. But we need more.
We want everyone to live a good life, but a life filled with excessive material wealth and luxury has nothing to do with a good life.
Read more from the Norwegian debate
Live simply, so others can live, he says. This is a mature way of life.
When you live simply, there are fewer worries and more free time. At the same time, it’s good for the planet. A good life means a life filled with joy, laughter and love, which is completely free.
That’s luxury!
