<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:m="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"><head><meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=us-ascii"><meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 15 (filtered medium)"><style><!--
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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72"><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>A popular topic recently has been the runaway wealth gap. Here’s a fun spin on it. The super rich are setting up safe spaces in New Zealand of all places:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/01/30/doomsday-prep-for-the-super-rich">http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/01/30/doomsday-prep-for-the-super-rich</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Those 8 people who are in such peril for having more wealth than the poorest several billion are setting up Apocalypse-Maybe retreats. This concept really caught my interest because I believe Chinese people have been doing that in my own town for a long time, buying up homes in the area to use as bank vaults and emergency landing strips in case China decides to remind its wealthy capitalists that the government really owns everything. In that event, they would need to get out of town quickly, and take everyone they care about. Result: many homes in the area are meticulously maintained by contractors but no one lives there.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It is easy enough for me to imagine a Chinese crackdown on having money. Then suddenly many of these long-empty homes are occupied by new residents with pleeeeenty of money, eager to buy additional homes.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>So… American billionaires are setting up castles in New Zealand while Chinese billionaires set up modest castles in America.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>What a world. {8^D<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>spike <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>