This is how people in poor countries view people in rich countries as well. And how people in grievance cultures view the outgroup they hold a grudge against when that outgroup is doing better than them. It’s just incredulity combined with prejudice.
Eneasz
Karma: 3,727
This. “loot the outgroup” is evil behavior.
I don’t care if it can sustain huge amounts, actually. It shouldn’t have this even if it’s sustainable.
No, that misses the core argument. “Letting people keep their stuff if it was earned honorably” is a vital component of the engine. You can’t remove it and keep the engine working.
You hit actual counter argument here—“People are already coordinated around the notion that billionares are not “honorably wealth” and are net negative for society.” I agree that is the case for some billionaires, and where that is the case they should be punished and their wealth confiscated. But that must be demonstrated, it cannot simply be assumed to be true because they are billionaires.
The organizer of the march (Derik) specifically spoke about buy, borrow, die in interviews with the press, and in his closing speech, as a loophole that exists and must be closed. The marchers were not without nuance (except Annie ofc.… >.>) I’m less concerned than most, partly because it requires a low-interest environment (this was a much bigger deal during the era of 0% interest rate) and partly because “die” is a crucial part of it. Seems like a losing strategy to me on it’s face, and one that won’t last much longer as we fix aging. But regardless, this can and probably should be fixed by eliminating the step-up basis on extremely large estates.
If the 3.4%-8.2% number comes from counting unrealized capital gains, which the phrase “most billionaire wealth comes from unrealized capital gains” leads to me believe is the case, then the 3.4%-8.2% number is simply a lie.
Stone Age Billionaire Can’t Words Good
The latest episode of the Bayesian Conspiracy podcast is a discussion of this post (starting at minute 31).
https://www.thebayesianconspiracy.com/2026/01/253-the-seven-vicious-vices-of-rationalists/
Guys who care about openness and honesty should continue to be open and honest; and the women who are turned off by this are best avoided by us, tbh. Unless you (as the guy) are also into non-consent, the sex with someone who isn’t visibly/legibly into you isn’t great.
I’ve done audio for Ben’s HPMoR/Disco Elysium crossover story. It’s here—https://hpmorpodcast.com/?p=3476
It’s not ideal, I think next time I’ll get someone with a voice much closer to the narrator for the game. But here is my shot at an audio version of this. https://hpmorpodcast.com/?p=3476
Soul-Whore
Lighthaven Sequences Reading Group #58 (Tuesday 11/25)
Lighthaven Sequences Reading Group #57 (Tuesday 11/18)
Being The Target Demographic
Jealous rage is terrible. I disagree that it’s a clinging love, which is what I would associate with jealous rage. This is a protective love.
I agree that acting on this desire would often be sub-optimal, but I’m not advocating acting on it. I’m saying that it’s there, and it’s good to acknowledge, and honestly I think it’s good that it’s there even if it is sub-optimal in many parts of the modern world.
I’m a little confused, what do you think is the core assertion that my argument relied on?