You lost me there JohnBoy - since I advocate more equal wealth distribution, but am myself a serial entrepreneur.
(I would prefer to move the discussion away from the personal and anecdotal - the desire to resite it there, away from objective evidence and sound argument, plays into the hands of the climate-change-deniers - but just once for the record…
I am a lifelong socialist that started my first business when I was still at school, a second at university, and since have set up and run a number of my own companies - indeed I have for most of my working life been a successful business owner, employer, etc…
And in my experience, most real, successful entrepreneurial people - that really started from nothing (as opposed to building from a privileged family background) - are politically progressive. I could give you many examples - including some of my friends from a life in business.
Surprising, isn’t it, how different people’s life experiences can be - and what little resemblance they often have to common stereotypes?)
How many of those at the top have experienced this? Very few I know of have had this experience these days. In a bygone era perhaps, but even then it seems rather ‘rose tinted’ when talking about the seriously wealthy. Generally this seems more like the experience of those in the vast section in the middle rather than the 1%ers, or even the 5%ers.
I’ll try one last time but don’t suppose for a minute you’ll actually answer the question.
Given that economic power has shifted away from the West, how are the likes of Russia, China and even India going to be forced/persuaded that the only way out of this is wealth distribution and reduced consumerism?
Surprising indeed, surely the very nature of an entrepreneur is that they start with nothing, as I did, so it seems at least we do have one thing in common.
Politically Progressive, I think that really depends on where your entrepreneurial skills might lie.
If politically Progressive is being one of Maggie T’s blue eyed boys then guilty as charged. I think you will find that the scales weigh heavily towards political aggression or apathy in the cut and thrust of real business, at least that’s my experience.
I’ve risen to the bait there and I really shouldn’t have done, because I suspect even you @tim17 are chuckling to yourself in a knowing way at what a daft comment that was.
Elon Musk started his first business from a rented office with a couple of friends, he couldn’t afford to rent an apartment as well so slept in the office on a sofa visiting the local YMCA to take a shower.
Closer to home and further back in time, Bernard Matthews reared turkeys from eggs in an old building that he also lived in with his wife.
Both of those examples relate to people in the 1% and there are many more.
There have been discussions before on SurviveFrance about the ‘self-made-man’ myth of the entrepreneur. Again, folks need to check the actual facts. While it’s true (as I know only too well) that some entrepreneurs really do start with nothing, it is very rare. It’s certainly not true of any of the billionaires mentioned in the posts here. For example:
The key first investment in the establishment of Amazon was $300,000 from Bezos’ parents. You may call that ‘starting from nothing’; I call it ‘privilege’.
Musk was from a similarly wealthy family, that “owned one of the biggest houses in Pretoria”.
For Branson - see the thread on him specifically.
But it’s really fascinating how powerful and persistent these entrepreneur-as-hero myths are - and who falls for them - especially when it’s really so easy to find out the truth.
Also interesting how this mythology has intruded into discussion on climate/ecological breakdown…
That’s because wealth distribution is absolutely fundamental to the discussion Tim - entrepreneurialism not so much (nor indeed is there much of a relationship between entrepreneurialism and wealth either - that’s another myth!).
As a lot of the rampant consumerism of the west is achieved via Chinese made goods I’m guessing that a choice to stop buying them would help. An end to outsourcing our pollution there would also send a message.
Removing fossil fuels from our energy infrastructure will reduce demand for Russian gas.
So, yes, persuasion is possible.
I agree Badger. The point is that we all need to do what we can, both in our personal lives and in campaigning and voting for change. The hope of the world is that enough people in all countries will take similar action, and bring sufficient pressure to bear. And there are indeed committed environmentalists in all countries.
Entrenched wealth and power always seem insurmountable at first, but those who succeed in effecting change don’t let this stop them. And what’s the alternative? - a cynical misanthropic nihilism? - that does no favours to anybody (even yourself)?
@Geof_Cox , you started this topic to make your views known of how the planet might be fixed. I applaud your determination and belief that there is, in your opinion, an answer but to achieve your proposals the world needs to be on board and something tells me it will never happen. Yes many do their bit but I feel that all it will achieve is a slowing down of the earth’s demise rather than save it. I also believe that that day is many many light years away.
I read people’s worry, concern and fear of the future, in the life span of one human being there are far more important topics to worry about. I will continue to do my bit as a responsible citizen of the planet but that will not stop the majority messing it up. That isnt a myth, that fact.
