[wavefunction]

I remember reading stories of folks in hospitals and nursing homes left to die during Katrina. Or how many Congress people from a certain political party voted against helping out folks devastated by Sandy.

In fact, the "greed is good, corporations are people, etc." mentality that promotes selfishness as a vice is a major plank of one of the main political parties of the US.

[cmurf]

I think that's generous. If only it were limited to greed is good. This is about class, not merely greed. Class is the idea that some people are simply better than other people, be it by bloodline, family name, meritocracy. The preservation of the aristocracy is paramount, but right there along with it is aristocrats first, others second. Sometimes a distant second. If you have more money you get better education, health care, justice, and might even pay lower taxes as a percentage of earned income.

This sort of nonsense is also where we get prosperity theology from. You'd think these people would have read Job.

[TheSpiceIsLife]

I honestly believe this is just people being people and wanting to maintain their quality of life for their children and grandchildren.

Tell me that if ever become exceedingly wealthy you wouldn't do what you could to protect your wealth. I know I'm doing what I can with what I have.

Only the extremly wealthy can be philanthropic to an extreme extent.

[eponeponepon]

> Only the extremly wealthy can be philanthropic to an extreme extent.

So it follows that the normally wealthy can be philanthropic to a normal extent, then?

Separately, I have to admit I'm unsure if you meant to conflate philanthropy with monetary value.