c/politics · by smegforbrains@lemmy.ml · 2y

Nature article suggests that we cannot afford the rich

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-024-00723-3

Equality is essential for sustainability. The science is clear — people in more-equal societies are more trusting and more likely to protect the environment than are those in unequal, consumer-driven ones.

351 points · 14 comments · view on lemmy.world

14 Comments

Pandantic@midwest.social · 45 pts · 2y (3 replies)

These problems don’t just hit the poorest individuals, although the poorest are most badly affected. Even affluent people would enjoy a better quality of life if they lived in a country with a more equal distribution of wealth, similar to a Scandinavian nation. They might see improvements in their mental health and have a reduced chance of becoming victims of violence; their children might do better at school and be less likely to take dangerous drugs.

You see, “upper-middle class”, you can benefit too, stop voting against it!

nkat2112@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 2y

This is a very interesting point and it makes perfect sense.

andrew@lemmy.stuart.fun · 4 pts · 2y (1 reply)

I'm already voting for it, for sure. I feel like many of us on Lemmy are likely upper middle and in favor of more equality.

Pandantic@midwest.social · 2 pts · 2y

I wasn’t yelling a lemmy upper middle class people, I was yelling at the shithead upper middle class people. I’m looking at you Florida!

Binthinkin@kbin.social · 30 pts · 2y (1 reply)

No shit. We proved 20 years ago they were leeches on society and should be taxed back into reality. What did Congress do? Consistent blank checks to the wealthy, a weaker FCC, a weaker SEC, and a human trash billionaire scumbag who stole an election.

This isn’t new news. Wake up kids. VOTE for yourselves not for the wealthy.

Cowbee@lemmy.ml · 1 pts · 2y

As long as money infests politics, this problem will continue, regardless of how the public votes.

some_guy@lemmy.sdf.org · 17 pts · 2y (3 replies)

I feel like this is a tautological conclusion, but that's just me trying to use a word I learned in the last few years.

Here's an observation: a death in the family resulted in an inheritance. I was advised that I'd be subject to higher taxes in my state than family members in another state. Someone suggested that was bad. I countered that I was happy that my tax dollars would go to my state / community. They seemed surprised.

Our enemy is not just the rich. They are everyone who fails to see the problem.

Zuberi@lemmy.dbzer0.com · -8 pts · 2y (2 replies)

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kaffiene@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 2y (1 reply)

A. Rude B. Missed his point

Zuberi@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 1 pts · 2y

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catch22@startrek.website · 9 pts · 2y (2 replies)

But I worked extra hard. If there isn't a scale of shitty, how can I lord it over those that I perceive as not contributing as much me.

If making people miserable is what's makes me happy, then making myself miserable in the process is clearly worth it. /s

Spite is the mind-killer. Spite is the little-death that brings total obliteration.

kaffiene@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 2y (1 reply)

My personal view - I think closely related to your point - is that in-group out-group thinking is the root of most of our major issues

catch22@startrek.website · 3 pts · 2y

Completely agree, it unfortunately seems to be innate in so many people

n3m37h@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 2y

Then let's start eating them, I just sharpened a bunch of knives too!

RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 2y

The article cites the richest 1% in the world. If you’d like to know which countries have the largest number of the richest, here’s a graphic.

UnrepententProcrastinator@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 2y

I was thinking more of a dine and dash...