[ExI] millionaires and billionaires

[Tomasz Rola]

On Sat, 24 Sep 2011, John Grigg wrote:

> I've found this thread fascinating, and will now add some of my own
> thoughts.  I used to work in the hospitality field, and so got to meet my
> share of millionaires and even a few billionaires.  I found many of these
> people (especially the older ones) to be courteous and friendly, while I
> remember a young trust fund venture capitalist (family business) who was so
> obnoxiously arrogant to everyone, I wanted to deck him hard for his own
> good.
> 
> 
> A rather eccentric and very tall, gangly old man (dressed like he was an old
> west undertaker) came to the lodge to visit, and he would just lounge around
> on some big rocks outside and watch the world go by.  I went out to say
> hello and see if he needed anything, and I got a Yoda-like sharing of wisdom
> from him.  I was later told he was one of the wealthiest people in the
> state.

So, yet another mail with interesting real life observations :-). Just to 
add a bit to yours and Kelly's postings (because it seems this thread is 
going to dry soon), two reflections:

1. It is quite possible there exists a group of wealthy people, whose only 
contact with physical world is by hands of their workers/servants. Since I 
suspect they mostly hang up with their likes, it is hard to say anything 
certain about their psyche, morale or character.

This remainds me of one s-f short story about times when humans will 
overcome death. Those born mortal and undergoing therapy in their later 
lifes are somewhat able to find understanding with those who underwent 
therapy in their youth. But those who were born immortal had tendency to 
be, in simple words, assholes asking for a good trashing.

Unfortunately, I don't remember much more, including names and title.

2. If a history is to teach us something, Polish history including, here 
is an example of historical super-rich. Also known as magnaterie:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnate

In later ages of Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, they ruled over waste 
areas of land and had their own armies, very real and well equipped. From 
what I have heard/read, they also waged conflicts with our neighboring 
states (looking for betterment of their personal fortunes) and from time 
to time the whole country had to pay for this.

I think they contributed to demise of Poland because to perform their 
powerplays unopposed, it was good for them to make a big group of poorer 
nobility into their clientele, either by direct bribing or by ways of 
employment. This created a large "noble mob", who believed they were 
acting in Poland's best interest (at least they made lots of noice about 
it) while doing whatever their patron asked them to do. In effect, making 
any positive change would become impossible, as this could strip power 
from magnates and, obviously, they were against any such change. Closer to 
the infamous partitions, magnates were stupid enough to ask neighbor 
states (at the time, rising powers while Poland slipped down) for help 
against each other - thinking they manipulate those states for their own 
goals, they in fact became manipulated puppets.

To make my description a bit more just, magnates have also funded 
hospitals, orphanages, libraries and schools. They were doing a lot to 
introduce modern agriculture and industry into their domains. They also 
built towns from time to time (well, not with their hands).

So a full picture of super-rich is going to be painted in a variety of 
colors.

Also, I'm not sure if there is any social system that prevents the rise of 
super-rich people (assuming rich is not only about monetary wealth). And 
once they enter the scene, they gradually start acting against the system 
because they have to maintain their status quo. They also act against 
their rivals, but contrary to the system, rivals are able to defend 
themselves.

Once again, proper education of the masses could be a strong deterrent.

> Dennis May continues:
> You meet millionaires all the time and likely don't know it.
> I can't say I've ever met a billionaire.  I think the extent of the
> rich I've ever been around is in the under 50 million range.
> Most millionaires are not cocky about their money.  Most
> people who act cocky about money are immature and
> likely wannabes in debt.
>  >>>
> 
> 
> This is very true.  My eyes were opened by reading the great book, "The
> Millionaire Next Door."  I recommend it to everyone.  I find most

Two books on my bookshelf cry to be read, both by Richard Conniff:

1. The Natural History of the Rich: A Field Guide

2. The Ape in the Corner Office: How to Make Friends, Win Fights and Work 
Smarter by Understanding Human Nature

>From a very brief look inside, they promise to describe few things about 
rich folks.

I guess it is from one of those books I got a story about 5-millionaires 
being very unhappy because they couldn't have afforded a house in Aspen, 
Colorado. And flying private jet for hollidays there.

Regards,
Tomasz Rola

--
** A C programmer asked whether computer had Buddha's nature.      **
** As the answer, master did "rm -rif" on the programmer's home    **
** directory. And then the C programmer became enlightened...      **
**                                                                 **
** Tomasz Rola          mailto:tomasz_rola at bigfoot.com             **