Fortune of the Few
Modern society has been fortunate. It’s hard to believe that the two most consistent reigning billionaires of our time are in favor of paying more taxes. Warren Buffet is the prime example of a humble, family man that lives way below his means. Bill Gates, though a ruthless business man, is giving more money to charitable causes than most people ever will. In fact, most of the rich are cutthroat at their professions, as evidenced by their success. It’s not a coincidence that cutthroat is an appropriate business term either; business is the modern day version of war.
The only difference today, is how society perceives the wealthy, and the war.
In the past, the wealthy were warriors, kings of armies that conquered land. People lived under a ruler for protection and survival. More recently, sovereign nations and their heads of state were the powerful, leading for the good of their people. People elected and gave power to these leaders to wage wars, raise taxes, and make reforms to improve their country’s position, to do what was in the best interest for the country as a whole.
Now, we are almost reverting back to the tribes. The heads of state are no longer the most powerful. The wealth has returned to the fortunate few. Corporate entities and, more specifically, the families in charge of these entities are the ones in control. So far we’ve been lucky, and most wrongdoing has been held in check.
Or, we just haven’t noticed.
Looking at the Forbes Billionaires List you can see a pattern of parent entities, usually under the same family name, controlling multiple sub-entities. Carlos Slim controls over 5% of Mexico’s GDP. Bernard Arnault’s family controls a ⅓ of all major luxury brands in the world, LVMH. All economic signs point to power being concentrated.
The tide seems to be turning. The genuinely greedy people are starting to get more power. No longer do you hear about the “greater good.” It’s all about protecting your own family interests instead of society’s; being selfish before selfless.
But there is hope. From history, the world favors altruism, as no monopoly has survived for too long. The Internet is lifting the veil on the puppet master hierarchy of corporations. Society is also starting to notice; Occupy Wall Street and the Arab Spring, being the first glimpses.
The real question is whether the rise and fall of power is a pendulum that will swing back and forth forever, or a function approaching its steady state equilibrium?
The only difference today, is how society perceives the wealthy, and the war.
In the past, the wealthy were warriors, kings of armies that conquered land. People lived under a ruler for protection and survival. More recently, sovereign nations and their heads of state were the powerful, leading for the good of their people. People elected and gave power to these leaders to wage wars, raise taxes, and make reforms to improve their country’s position, to do what was in the best interest for the country as a whole.
Now, we are almost reverting back to the tribes. The heads of state are no longer the most powerful. The wealth has returned to the fortunate few. Corporate entities and, more specifically, the families in charge of these entities are the ones in control. So far we’ve been lucky, and most wrongdoing has been held in check.
Or, we just haven’t noticed.
Looking at the Forbes Billionaires List you can see a pattern of parent entities, usually under the same family name, controlling multiple sub-entities. Carlos Slim controls over 5% of Mexico’s GDP. Bernard Arnault’s family controls a ⅓ of all major luxury brands in the world, LVMH. All economic signs point to power being concentrated.
The tide seems to be turning. The genuinely greedy people are starting to get more power. No longer do you hear about the “greater good.” It’s all about protecting your own family interests instead of society’s; being selfish before selfless.
But there is hope. From history, the world favors altruism, as no monopoly has survived for too long. The Internet is lifting the veil on the puppet master hierarchy of corporations. Society is also starting to notice; Occupy Wall Street and the Arab Spring, being the first glimpses.
The real question is whether the rise and fall of power is a pendulum that will swing back and forth forever, or a function approaching its steady state equilibrium?
