this post was submitted on 28 Aug 2023
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Let's make this simple.
Elon for example is worth 180 billion. His private jet, which costs $17k/yr to refill, is worth $62 million, or 0.03% of his net worth.
The average person, maybe lower middle class to middle class, is let's say worth about $250,000. If they bought or leased a car worth $45k, that would be 18% of their net worth.
It is probably the equivalent, or LESS than the equivalent of someone in the middle class, buying a candy bar. And they can do it over and over again with no repercussions.
And jet fuel is incredibly pollutant, and billionaires pollute millions of more times in general than the average person.
https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/billionaire-emits-million-times-more-greenhouse-gases-average-person
I'm fully in support of these protesters and hope they don't stop.
He is rich as fuck but "worth" is a stupid metric since he could never liquidate all that money.
He couldn't "even" afford Twitter that's why he tried to back out of the deal and had to get investor help to buy it when he was forced too.
Liquidating is also stupid. That's not how they access their wealth. They take out loans, using their equity in companies as collateral. They don't sell off their stocks, because you have to pay taxes on that.
Realistically, people like Elon Musk have unlimited money. Some governments aren't even worth as much as him. He could buy governments and control people if he wants (which is what lobbying basically is).
If he wants to make more money he just has to pay the right people and do a little dance. Liquidation is in some cases completely irrelevant.
This is a dumb and irrelevant argument sorry
Fuck you. You're part of the problem.
You're in for a rough time in 20 years if having to take a detour already makes you wish death on someone.
Stinks to see ambulances stuck in traffic because some kids didn't consider the consequences of their actions, though.
Don't mess with critical infrastructure to "send messages". Roads can be very critical, to many people.
Edit: I'm down voted for thinking ambulances and fire trucks should be able to reach their destination? Holy cow.. What does one do for upvotes around here, blow up hospitals?
That’s why you are having the same attitude towards cars. They also create traffic jams, blocking ambulances.
And if you're child/significant other died as a direct result of someone glueing themselves to a road, would you genuinely be ok with that? Would that be a worthwhile loss of life for the cause? Because somehow, I find that incredibly hard to believe.
You are correct. I would not be okay with that. I would be furious and hateful against the people responsible. The politicians that do nothing, making these protests necessary in the first place.
Oh, I see. You just don't understand the point of a protest.
I'm not sure why you're being downvoted so much either tbh. I completely support protest, but let's not fuck up everyone's day and potentially kill people for it. Yes, climate change is a genuine threat, but don't risk the people's lives.
If people want to protest, do it in the middle of a city, do it outside a government building etc. There are ways to inconvenience people and get your message across without risking life
Yep, these kids are trust fund babies with no idea what they're doing and no personal responsibility. Their parents taught them that
you're the one who supports running protesters over
Projecting a little, are we? Don't worry, there's support and therapy for people like you. Help is available.
The fact that the little guy can’t be 10 mins late without repercussions is part of the problem.