The Political Memes Thread (memes too spicy for Channel Zero)

[Mercer]

On 5/1/2020 at 6:28 AM, Hua Guofang said:

Are you talking the world over or Just the younger nations like the US, Canada, Australia, etc?

I’m not defining an absolute, I’m describing a societal shift That does have some influence on even the most archaic backwater economic/political systems. This is clearly far more pronounced in 1st world countries, especially those that allow women into the workforce etc.

 

It complicated, and too hard to define in absolute terms. I’d be lying if I said being born into money isn’t a tremendous head start, my point is that’s not “ruling class”. Examples can be shown supporting either claim, but for the most part claiming there’s a “ruling class” or birthright claim in the 1st world Country where your representatives are elected by the populace is 100% whiney, less successful people looking for an excuse to use state coercion to benefit their group, at the expense of a more successful group. First one has to paint the picture “these rich people are bad” much like trump needs to paint a picture like “these Mexicans are bad” before using the power of the state to target a specific group that isn’t violating anyone else’s rights. Every moron that’s ever sat at a red light burning with Andy for some douche bag in a fucking Lamborghini or some shit thinking they don’t deserve that level of wealth compared to themselves falls for it almost immediately, needing very little evidence of the moral righteousness of this envious hatred. 

[misteraven]

I don’t disagree but also don’t entirely agree. It’s obvious that wealth creates specific advantages, among them, the power to greater control ones destiny. Money allows greater access, among them influence. Whether it’s buying strategic businesses that allow for better resources towards specific types of control or buying politicians to that same end. I wouldn’t go so far as to claim it’s a ruling class, but likewise, wealth creates many advantages and among them is engineering your life and interests in relation to the ambition and wealth present. Perhaps it’s easier to have this conversation if we first define it?

 

In any case, wealth has privileges and for the most part, we all have a shot at it. Just some of us get a head start on that because someone further up the line made that available to future generations of their family. No different than us providing for our wives and children certain luxuries or advantages compared to what an individual might be capable of providing in some third world or less developed country. 

[Mercer]

Yes, I don't think there's any system on earth that produces an equal outcome for all, this is obvious. Even in so called Communist/Socialist systems the political class is a "ruling class" with perks and privileges that most can't get, just like in free countries. The main difference is the privileged in those places earn their privilege through political clout which helps no one, while in a capitalists system you earn this privilege by providing something people actually want like a good, or service that's higher quality. or cheaper than the competition. If you choose to be a lazy fuck under capitalism, and decide not to enhance your own knowledge/skills in pursuit of a career that's your choice. If you decide to never once in your life risk any of your own wealth in an entrepreneurial endeavor, or attempt to provide/produce goods and services other's are willing to pay for because they're higher quality, or lower cost than the competition, you are not in a targeted class, you're just a bum. If someone lives in a big house you can't afford, or pulls up in a car you  couldn't afford they're not repressing, or ripping off you, or anyone else.

[Mercer]

Quote

The ruling class, not my own decisions are responsible for my dissatisfaction. If we can somehow make them as poor as I am, I'll be much happier. 

 

[Mercer]

[Mercer]

[Mercer]

[Mercer]

[Mercer]

[Mercer]

 

 

 

[Mercer]

[Mercer]

[Mercer]

 

[Mercer]

[Mercer]

 

 

Peep the Ex Wifey edit lol

[Mercer]

 

[Kults]

1 hour ago, Mercer said:

Our worst one ever few weeks back. None of the guns he used were legal. Good reason to ban 1500 other guns /s

[Fist 666]

@Mercer do you have a source for that three generations of wealth piece? I see it pop up a lot and cannot find the actual source of it. The closest thing to a citation I found referenced a study by  "The Williams Consultancy Group" but cannot find the supposed study or any details in how they performed the analysis (trusting a study performed by them as if it were not biased is hugely laughable, but perhaps another study [not anecdotes] is out there). How wealth is defined is hugely relevant, and also "most" vs "two-thirds" or "70%" seems to vary between everyone using that claim. 

 

I'm not looking to have any discussion/argument, just trying to find the source of the stated claim as I've read it too many times in too many places to just accept it as fact without reading the original. 

[Mercer]

2 minutes ago, Fist 666 said:

@Mercer do you have a source for that three generations of wealth piece? I see it pop up a lot and cannot find the actual source of it. The closest thing to a citation I found referenced a study by  "The Williams Consultancy Group" but cannot find the supposed study or any details in how they performed the analysis (trusting a study performed by them as if it were not biased is hugely laughable, but perhaps another study [not anecdotes] is out there). How wealth is defined is hugely relevant, and also "most" vs "two-thirds" or "70%" seems to vary between everyone using that claim. 

 

I'm not looking to have any discussion/argument, just trying to find the source of the stated claim as I've read it too many times in too many places to just accept it as fact without reading the original. 

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=3+genrations+wealth+squandered&t=brave&ia=web

 

I've never had trouble accepting this as it's almost common knowledge. Having met a few self made acquaintances over the years, and marrying someone that worked as a personal assistant for some extremely wealthy people I can tell you this. It's almost as hard staying in the top 10% as it is trying to get there. Quite frankly some of these people are so stupid a fortune can be squandered in a single generation, and Ive watched it happen myself. That's the main reason anyone with half a brain that's made a fortune these days sets up a trust, as opposed to handing control over of the wealth. Unfortunately, most people can't earn enough to have a trust that lasts more than a posh generation or two of lazy fucks.

[Fist 666]

Google gives me the same links--all state the claim as fact but give no source for it, no studies demonstrating it, nothing but anecdote or general example. It absolutely makes sense, but I've seen enough anecdotes contrary to the claim that I want to source it and get clarity on how wealth is defined in the claim--simple home ownership? An estate? Savings account over $X? Net worth of $X? 

[Hua Guofang]

10 hours ago, Mercer said:

I’m not defining an absolute, I’m describing a societal shift That does have some influence on even the most archaic backwater economic/political systems. This is clearly far more pronounced in 1st world countries, especially those that allow women into the workforce etc.

 

It complicated, and too hard to define in absolute terms. I’d be lying if I said being born into money isn’t a tremendous head start, my point is that’s not “ruling class”. Examples can be shown supporting either claim, but for the most part claiming there’s a “ruling class” or birthright claim in the 1st world Country where your representatives are elected by the populace is 100% whiney, less successful people looking for an excuse to use state coercion to benefit their group, at the expense of a more successful group. First one has to paint the picture “these rich people are bad” much like trump needs to paint a picture like “these Mexicans are bad” before using the power of the state to target a specific group that isn’t violating anyone else’s rights. Every moron that’s ever sat at a red light burning with Andy for some douche bag in a fucking Lamborghini or some shit thinking they don’t deserve that level of wealth compared to themselves falls for it almost immediately, needing very little evidence of the moral righteousness of this envious hatred. 

Yeah, I think the term 'ruling class' is the key term and to a large degree, I agree. Europe and parts of Asia still have royal families that are born into privilege and wealth, but they are not necessarily 'ruling' when there are governments and parliamentary systems around them and the royals (theoretically) are subject to the same laws as everyone else. However, as you've notioned towards, there are some countries where ruling classes still exist, Thailand is one - speaking against the monarchy is an offence that receives long prison terms. Cambodia still has a royal family as does MAlaysia and the Malaysians still get involved in politics - they were just part of the engineering that had Mahatir removed from the PM's office. Same with Nepal and a number of other countries we can rattle off where the royal families are still politically powerful.

 

China is an interesting one as you have the 'princelings', these are the families of the leading revolutionaries that won the war in 1949. Xi Jinping is a princeling. However, whilst they are ultra-powerful and have access to resources that we can barely imagine, they are no absolute as there is the Tuanpai - the Party youth league and the Shanghai faction that battle for power (Hu Jintao, the previous Gen Sec was from the Tuanpai) and being a princeling won't always save you. Bo Xilai, the son of one of the immortal 8, who was gunning for power, is spending the rest of his days in prison because he lost the power battle with Xi.

 

There are also the European monarchies that still exist in many countries, but I don't think they are part of politics so much these days. Then there are the old money families like the Rockefeller family, the Koch's and similar folk such as them. As to how much they influence politics, I don't really know, but it would seem naive to think that they don't.

 

Interesting discussion, never really thought about this much.

[Mercer]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruling_class

 

Socialists like to use this term as a leftover from when Socialism started and the remnents of the old world, where rich people AKA aristocrats really did terrorize to population at will. I mean it's pretty clear what "Ruling Class" means, it's tied to political power, not wealth hence the "ruling". Kind of like protesting against, and defying the people wearing boots is probably not how most people define bootlicking. 

• Ruling class implies the type of political power a King, Sheik, or Barron may have in their respective territory to decide who's allowed to conduct business there etc. and it is usually inherited/passed down in a select class of people.
• This is the same type of political power that a cop has (to a much lesser degree) where it's basically up to them if they want to assault you or not with no repercussions.
• This is the same political power a Socialist system creates. For example the CCP decides practically everything in China, elevates one business, or individual and destroys another (not the free market) just like every other Socialist system ever put into place.

Rich people do not have the same official power a ruling class has. They can't deny you any of your rights rights, or violate them at will. In reality they get arrested like anyone else and sued for good measure. Wealth, by itself will not put you in a ruling class, you'd need to somehow use that wealth to purchase political clout from the real ruling class like a judge, local official, or politician before you can any wield power, AKA rule. This undue influence does in fact happen, but ultimately it's the government officials making those rules, and in todays system these privileges are not inherited, or passed down generation to generation. Each government parasite has to earn these privileges themselves now by either becoming an elected official, or having a successful career in "public service".

 

 

 

[Mercer]

[Mercer]

[Hua Guofang]

 

 

 

[Mercer]

[Mercer]

[Mercer]

 

 

Quick Maths

[Mercer]

[Mercer]