Why do so many Americans admire billionaires? (A small rant because, at times, these fuckers just piss me off).

[Magoo48]

Being morbidly rich, like billionaires and multi millionaires, must be viewed in a new and practical, if not social, cultural, and moral light.

Instead of being venerated as iconic financial heroes of this malignant, extraction capitalism, they ought instead be shunned and maligned for hoarding their worker-garnered over abundance while millions of their fellow countrymen struggle to survive.

Instead of exhibiting wary astonishment at the greed proudly exhibited by these captains of industrial and individual bloat, millions upon millions of we the people root for these Smaug like raiders as they rampage over every community in our land extracting more and more of our hard gaining treasure to be stockpiled in their exquisitely adorned, well protected caves.

[jimfields33]

1. The false "work really hard and you can be just like them."

That’s been drilled into everyone of us almost since birth.

[Magoo48]

4. Yes, for the vast majority of us, our ship is not just about to come in.

[ret5hd]

2. Because Mammon is their true god.

They claim to be xtian, but...

[Oneironaut]

3. The "self-made man" mythos and false association between wealth and intelligence.

[Marcus IM]

5. Wasn't it a small group of very wealthy men who funded insurrection and then founded the USA?

Yes. It was. America has always been about this.
And, as "they" say ... if ya don't like it, then ya don't like America.

[Magoo48]

6. You answered your own question, told me what has "always been", and questioned my nationality.

So, I’ll pretend you were just messing’ with me, because I’m a life long union member as well.

[Marcus IM]

7. Just yanking the proverbial chain. lol

[wiggs]

8. Not an accident that the 'american dream' has changed from being able to support a family

and owning a house with one parent working....to....getting very rich. Consumerism, marketing, consolidation of media, Kardashianism, and ego-driven high profiles of the wealthy have distorted what americans hope for now. That, alongside widening inequality, is toxic and bound to lead to dissatisfaction and anger.

[Marcus IM]

11. The American dream you describe was for white folks.

White folks like to reminisce over how good things used to be for white folks.
Post WW2 VA programs were a mainstay in the creation of a "middle class" in the USA. A white middle class.
Black and Native Peoples veterans who served in the US military in WW2 defending against the spread of racist/bigoted fascism were excluded from VA low interest loans and many other VA programs - which has contributed to the much lower intergenerational wealth for black and indigenous families who served.

The conjuring of a fair and upwardly mobile America has always been couched in white supremacy.

[TheProle]

9. An adjective-filled rant, to be sure,

But super broad-brushed... you mention billionaires and multi-millionaires needing to be "shunned and maligned."

Does this apply across the board? Are there exceptions based on politics or industry or do-goodedness?

Or is this just the Orwellian Two Minutes Hate aimed at a Soviet-era cartoon of the Monopoly man?

[Magoo48]

13. I was thinking more in terms of a society whose highest praise was lavished upon those who understood "enough".

Perhaps in a society where the only path to unnecessary riches would be contrary to cultural and social traditions, where giving and sharing were held in highest esteem. Then, collection of such wealth would truly be an anomaly. Actually, I was somewhat disturbed when I wrote this bit of rant and just blowin’ hard.

[lpbk2713]

10. Must have the temperament of a water moccasin.

And they have no friends. Only people they can use.

[Karadeniz]

12. Because our culture is basically materialistic and no one gets a dissenting

view from those whose job it's supposed to be to know and support spiritual development.

[appleannie1]

14. Having worked in country clubs

I can assure you that the only difference between a millionaire and an alcoholic hobo is the millionaire drinks more expensive booze.

[former9thward]

16. Then why aren't alcoholic hobos millionaires?

[misanthrope]

17. Because they didn't emerge from the right vagina

It's baked into your birthday cake.

[former9thward]

21. It is a pity some actually believe that.

[Abolishinist]

22. I agree. Beyond the platitudes and hackneyed phrases,

there is little actual conversation.

[misanthrope]

23. So you don't think your genetics and family have anything to do with outcomes?

Those born into influential families have a better chance of "falling up" than those born into households of lesser means. Americans are content to blame the impoverished for their lot in life when it's actually much more complicated than just "work hard." An addict born into privilege has resources and second/third/fourth chances that a lot of others don't get.

[appleannie1]

24. Both drink, but the homeless don't drink Vat69 with a twist of lemon or Jameson on the Rocks.

I have seen some very well known people fall on you face drunk at banquets. To the point that it was a good thing they had drivers to take them home. What I meant was just because they have more money does not mean they are special. They are just people like everyone else.

[TheKentuckian]

15. A dangerous mix of weapons grade stupid and weird vicarious avarice

[Abolishinist]

18. I would contend there's a HUGE

difference between a billionaire and a multi-millionaire. At the lowest level, i.e. $2 million net worth, a billionaire is worth 500 times that of a ($2 million) multi-millionaire. Using the same ratio, multi-millionaires and those with a net worth of $4,000 are in the same boat.

There are numerous incidents on this very site stating that Dems are more educated and more intelligent than repukes. If true, then which group, in your opinion, includes more multi-millionaires?

You must also realize there are numerous multi-millionaires on this site, what say you about them? Do they pizz you off as well?

[Initech]

19. People who have hundreds of billions should be treated like people who have giant piles of garbage.

You're hoarders at that point.

[lovebugg]

20. just a guess

same reason people admire sports ball players ?

Just a guess but when a person achieves the highest level in any field people admire them