Billionaire Tells Us We Need To Live More Modestly

[Newell Steamer]

edit I have no idea why I can't get the link to work,.. hijacking Bowfinger's post (thank you Bowfinger);

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-...-long-on-u-s-while-bemoaning-jobs-crisis.html

“America’s lifestyle expectations are far too high and need to be adjusted so we have less things and a smaller, better existence,” Greene said in an interview today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. “We need to reinvent our whole system of life.”

And, why do we need to live with far less?

“I’m remarkably long for my level of pessimism,” he said. “Our economy is in deep trouble. We need to be honest with ourselves. We’ve had a realistic level of job destruction, and those jobs aren’t coming back.”

Ah, yes! In order to "win" back the job that use to give an American $15/hr, but is now giving an Indian, Philapino or Polish person $6/hr, the Americans need to 'reinvent' their whole system of life, to be able to live off of a $6 or less salary!

Wait, does that mean that the cost of living will be adjusted as well?

Doubtful.

Well, how about we follow his whole system of life?

Greene, who flew his wife, children and two nannies on a private jet plane to Davos for the week,

,.. ah. Yes, another case of do as I say, not as I do.

 

[TechBoyJK]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-...ets-on-u-s-while-bemoaning-jobs-correct-.html



And, why do we need to live with far less?


Ah, yes! In order to "win" back the job that use to give an American $15/hr, but is now giving an Indian, Philapino or Polish person $6/hr, the Americans need to 'reinvent' their whole system of life, to be able to live off of a $6 or less salary!

Wait, does that mean that the cost of living will be adjusted as well?

Doubtful.

Well, how about we follow his whole system of life?


,.. ah. Yes, another case of do as I say, not as I do.

Most people aren't billionaires. So "do as I say, not as I do" is about the only available option for most people.

 

[Genx87]

Going off your quote since the article has disappeared.

Eh what is your complaint about what he said? The environmentalist left has been saying this for decades. And often times the leaders get off a private jet going to some green house or excessive carbon footprint conference to bitch about the middle class ruining the world by driving cars, heating homes, enjoying luxuries.

 

[SlowSpyder]

Link doesn't work for me, says article no longer available.

 

[Subyman]

Message is correct.

 

[Bowfinger]

Going off your quote since the article has disappeared. ...

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-...-long-on-u-s-while-bemoaning-jobs-crisis.html

 

[glenn1]

Well, I guess you have two options then. You can rob the guy at gunpoint and take his money to supplement your own lack of achievement. Or vote for government people to do the deed for you and hope you get back some of the tax crumbs. Either way it doesn't make you a better person or someone who contributes more to the world, it just means you've forcibly taken someone else's money to suit your fancy of what economic distribution you personally feel is more "just."

 

[Genx87]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-...-long-on-u-s-while-bemoaning-jobs-crisis.html

Thanks. Reading the entire article what he is saying is what many are saying. Offshoring jobs arent coming back. Technology will destroy jobs as well. Even better he has vowed to donate 80% of his estate.

 

[CADsortaGUY]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102347209#.


Hmmm....

 

[glenn1]

http://www.cnbc.com/id/102347209#.


Hmmm....

Guess the guy doesn't fit the billionaire/supermodel stereotype:

 

[maddogchen]

Guess the guy doesn't fit the billionaire/supermodel stereotype:

looks like an Asian Goldigger

 

[theeedude]

Well, I guess you have two options then. You can rob the guy at gunpoint and take his money to supplement your own lack of achievement. Or vote for government people to do the deed for you and hope you get back some of the tax crumbs. Either way it doesn't make you a better person or someone who contributes more to the world, it just means you've forcibly taken someone else's money to suit your fancy of what economic distribution you personally feel is more "just."

That would be true if workers were getting the fruits of their productivity gains over the last 30 years. As it stands, they are the ones contributing more to the world, and not getting the benefit from it that they deserve. So if anyone is doing the robbing, it's not them.

 

[Sonikku]

Guess the guy doesn't fit the billionaire/supermodel stereotype:

Wow. This gives me hope of marrying a billionaire after I, too, am post op. :thumbsup:

 

[Bowfinger]

Thanks. Reading the entire article what he is saying is what many are saying. Offshoring jobs arent coming back. Technology will destroy jobs as well. Even better he has vowed to donate 80% of his estate.

Agreed. I don't see any issue with what he said, other than it's unfortunate he's right. I also don't see a problem with him flying his family there on his private jet, though I understand some will attack him for it. Based solely on this article (which may be pure PR fluff), it sounds like he's one of the good guys, someone who recognizes just how incredibly fortunate he's been and who wants to share that good fortune with others.

 

[glenn1]

That would be true if workers were getting the fruits of their productivity gains over the last 30 years. As it stands, they are the ones contributing more to the world, and not getting the benefit from it that they deserve. So if anyone is doing the robbing, it's not them.

Well then take back what's rightfully yours. Plenty of surplus "Workers of the World Unite" flags around in surplus stores if you need them. Bring on the Reign of Terror and guillotine you some 1%ers.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Even better he has vowed to donate 80% of his estate.

80%, yarp.

And that 80% will do what to this statement?

America’s lifestyle expectations are far too high and need to be adjusted so we have less things and a smaller, better existence,

Will that 80% make up for what we aren't getting from the job market? Which sounds contrary to his statement - since he believes we should have less.

And, we should have less, because a country with crushing poverty is willing to do the work for far less? Well, those countries have had their salary expectation raised as well (http://profit.ndtv.com/news/your-mo...-likely-to-rise-by-10-5-in-2015-report-712179),.. so what seems to be next, is telling the American people they need to live with fewer lesser things.

The dirt cheap labor isn't dirt cheap anymore. And, it looks like the wealthy still want to keep shelling out next to nothing,.. but this time, back in the US.

 

[Bowfinger]

80%, yarp.

And that 80% will do what to this statement?


Will that 80% make up for what we aren't getting from the job market? Which sounds contrary to his statement - since he believes we should have less.

And, we should have less, because a country with crushing poverty is willing to do the work for far less? Well, those countries have had their salary expectation raised as well (http://profit.ndtv.com/news/your-mo...-likely-to-rise-by-10-5-in-2015-report-712179),.. so what seems to be next, is telling the American people they need to live with fewer lesser things.

The dirt cheap labor isn't dirt cheap anymore. And, it looks like the wealthy still want to keep shelling out next to nothing,.. but this time, back in the US.

I'm not seeing where Greene said he approves of this change. He's simply acknowledging reality. And yes, his personal reality is different from most Americans, so he can do things most Americans cannot.

 

[Newell Steamer]

I'm not seeing where Greene said he approves of this change. He's simply acknowledging reality. And yes, his personal reality is different from most Americans, so he can do things most Americans cannot.

Oh yeah, sure, lets put that off to the side,..

But, do you at least acknowledge he believes the American people need (his word, not mine) to lower their lifestyle expectations?

 

[chucky2]

Oh yeah, sure, lets put that off to the side,..

But, do you at least acknowledge he believes the American people need (his word, not mine) to lower their lifestyle expectations?

Why do you view this as a bad thing?

 

[theeedude]

Well then take back what's rightfully yours. Plenty of surplus "Workers of the World Unite" flags around in surplus stores if you need them. Bring on the Reign of Terror and guillotine you some 1%ers.

Or we can just return taxation and regulation back to pre-Reagan days. I pick that, but you can indulge in your strawman if you want to. It's the "let them eat cake" crowd that took the fruits of other's labor for their own opulence and ignored inequality that got themselves guillotined. Can't say I am sympathetic to their ilk. They had ample warnings.

 

[Newell Steamer]

Why do you view this as a bad thing?

Because it is no different than this;

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2013/07/15/2300321/mcdonalds-buget-low-wage/

 

[smackababy]

Oh yeah, sure, lets put that off to the side,..

But, do you at least acknowledge he believes the American people need (his word, not mine) to lower their lifestyle expectations?

They do. Everyone doesn't need 3 large screen TVs, the latest iPhone, and a BMW in the driveway. Americans spend far too much in excess in order to live large. The average American expects to live comfortable with a bunch of luxury items, while paying for services like going out for food and entertainment. It simply isn't realistic.

 

[dainthomas]

Why do you view this as a bad thing?

Because why should I lower my standard of living in order to give guys like that a couple more percentage points return in their hedge funds? The serfs should just be happy with their lot? F him.

 

[Genx87]

Because why should I lower my standard of living in order to give guys like that a couple more percentage points return in their hedge funds? The serfs should just be happy with their lot? F him.

I'm pretty sure he is discussing the globalization of the labor market. This guy makes his money in real estate. The question is will you lower your standard of living so somebody in a foreign country can go from living in complete squalor and jobless to having a job and a place to live and food to eat?

 

[Newell Steamer]

They do. Everyone doesn't need 3 large screen TVs, the latest iPhone, and a BMW in the driveway. Americans spend far too much in excess in order to live large. The average American expects to live comfortable with a bunch of luxury items, while paying for services like going out for food and entertainment. It simply isn't realistic.

And what would be realistic? Living the lives of the people who now have most of our jobs?

Or, living without heat and having a second job?

Let's cut the crap; this man isn't being a realist. He is a manipulator.