Hacker News Reader

Comment by hn_throwaway_99 | Hacker News Reader

It's only irrational not to do it if you're a completely self-centered asshole who derives no internal happiness from seeing others thrive. I can't believe the marginal increase in quality of life, happiness or life satisfaction is any different between someone worth $100 million compared to billions. If I was married to someone for decades, and decided to leave her for a newer model (shitty to begin with but bear with me), I would feel the value of leaving on at least decent terms would be worth a couple percent of my wealth.

View on HN

The end around this is convincing yourself that you’ll spend it better than the government would. There is a famous clip of Michael Dell saying as much at Davos.

Bezos and Musk think they’re saving the human race by deploying their capitol towards the pursuit of life in space.

Gates is attempting to make various diseases extinct.

Soros is attempting to bring about a world more closely aligned to the philosophical ideals that shaped his early education.

The richest of the rich usually have some pet project that they think is the most important thing in the world.

And Gates, Bezos, and Musk are probably right.

If anything, it is a much more efficient way to spend some resources. Instead of filling the bellies of thousands of red tape enabling workers, or spending that much money in pharmaceutical advertising.

Exactly this. Not availing yourself of these tax breaks is effectively the same as making a voluntary donation to the government. If you wouldn't do it as a non-rich person, why would you do it as a rich one?

The whole point of having a government is to have an institution that no one would voluntarily fund, but that we all agree to fund on the condition that everyone else does it too. It's a social mechanism designed to do an end-run around the perverse outcomes of the prisoner's dilemma. But it only works if participation is mandatory. If people are allowed to opt-out, the whole thing falls apart.

Just to play devil’s advocate we have no idea what is between this couple, or any couple for that matter, and are being presented with her side as he is silent. Sometimes people break up, and one person doesn’t want the other to get a single penny, whether they have $1 or $10 billion.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com