Let's Stop Blaming the Rich

I was watching yesterday some people on TV talking about this topic with negative attitude.They aren't talking about Bill Gates and Warren Buffet,they were talking about themselves.Take them a car for one day, and You will see reaction:-()Awaraness is the most precious thing ,it turns stones into diamonds.

Exactly. For the most part the rich have paid their dues. They've paid the price and at times continue to pay the price. Can you imagine having worked hard, taken the risks and still people keep trying to take the money you earned for themselve and your family. Because they feel entitled. Not so. There may be a minute few that don't fit this catagory but for the most part somewhere along the line someone paid the price to be where they are. So, get off your butts and find your own way. Find the door that opens up the future for you without trying to steal from others. You are not entitled to someone elses money or fame. AT ALL!

Simply put, they are jealous!

Be happy to live in the US and not in Germany. The Germans tend to wear really tinted glasses. So they are suspicious to every guy younger than 50 in a Porsche.

In the US the people acknowledge that you made it, in Germany the people think you simply need to boast.

I love this post because you couldn't be more on target. What a lot of people fail to realize is that success is not given on a silver platter, individuals who have acheived any level of success to include being the richest in the world, paid a great price through hard work and sacrifice. What the public sees is the "after" they made it rich, we (the public) have no idea of the magnitude of sacrifice and hard work paid

Yep!!! That's true!Many people see the rich people like they're something not worth being appreciate.Let's not forget that they and their succesful businesses make our lifes more easily.They add value to our society, and if they take advantage of that, good for them.It's their recompense.I appreciate those succesful businessmen, and I wish to become one as well, even if i'm 19.And what worries me it's if my dream will come true i will be able to do such extraordinarily things, like giving a big part of my wealth.
So, for those who are rich: Keep up the good work.

This blame the rich attitude begins in school, where teachers and professors seem to highlight the worst of wealth while never mentioning their own longing for it. I hope that with the extraordinary gifts from Messrs Gates and Buffet that society begins to reject the common scholary view of the wealthy and instead begins to emulate them.

Those that blame the wealthy are using it as a defense mechanism to avoid self disappointment. It is also interesting when those who create their wealth through risks and perseverance within the business community are blamed, but celebrity types are not brought in the "wealth" equation but are revered for their talent.

You know Mr. Sexton I noticed one thing here. People are starting to use their full names. I like that idea. It makes it more personal. More professional. Sorry for the boo boos. I was being interupted. I thought I had them all. I liked this article. (note: I'm not a perfectionist. I just like to make it look nice) (well kinda I guess I am) Maybe spell check would be good. No it's fine. I'm kidding. I look forward to more.

Mr. Trump said it best during the first episodes of "The Apprentice" last season, "It doesn't really matter". I believe he was referring to no matter how much money, power or status any one person attains, it doesn't really matter. What truly measures us as humanity is our gestures to others, not only the unfortunate, but any that we come across in our daily lives. Anyone who spends their day complaining about the wealth of others and lack of their own, should spend less time complaining and more time examining the amazing fact of simply being alive or feeling the sun on your face. No amount of money, fame or power can ever complete someone if they can't enjoy the most basics of what being alive is.

Greeting all, I am so glad that I took the time to read the posting. I agree with everyone's comment and I appreciate your positive attitude towards the rich. Daily, I encounter negative people towards life and the rich people (in California). However, I have learned the greatest lesson from successful people, reading, and support. I've learned that people who speak negatively are purely describing themselves or their life. An amazing part is that they are not aware of their actions. I guess they been too busy critizing the richest that they forgot themselves..To Bill Gates and Warren Buffet, keep up the good work and thank you for caring international issues. Bill Gates even stepped down from Microsoft to concentrate on his foundation. Brove!!!

I think the issue is that it was so unusual that two wealthy persons are donating their wealth rather than giving it all to their children now free from tax even if it was made via capital gains, as it was with Buffett, without it ever being taxed. The truth is, executive compensation has run amok, with CEO pay in America way out of line with the rest of the industrialized world. We are seeing a rise on poverty in America as wages stagnate and the cost of living, whether it be gas, medical, or real estate inflation soars.

Buffett and Gates are simply anomalies. The truth is, most people, including the rich, are greedy and donate little to charity... Which is why it makes news if someone isn't stingy.

I think that the announcement that Warren Buffett made on Monday is one of the great gestures in human history- a true sign that humanity is coming to an age where we care more about the human race as a whole than about ourselves. Bill Gates and Bono started the landslide. These men (and the women that inspired them) are people of light and they will reap a bounteous reward in heaven. There is a special place for those who earned so much to give so much back. But we live in an uneven world where the powers that be have created an uneven distribution of wealth so that 20% of the world's population controls 80% of the world's resources and 20% of the world's population controls 0.3% of the world's resources- and that among the bottom 20%- 38,000 people per day- mostly innocent children- die of preventable causes. While the billionaires of the world work hard for their money, I am sure that the starving of the world work hard for their money also- the difference is the place where you live, the circumstances under which you are born, and pure dumb luck. Anyone who can afford to spend $1 a day on snacks, soda, or coffee- seriously ought to think of sponsoring a child in a third world country with that same $1 a day. If we all did that- coupled with the billionaires who decide to give their wealth back to the world rather than to their children- then we will live in a world with horror, without despair, without hunger. And that would be a great place to be. As for me, even when I did not have enough money to have a phone without working 2 jobs, I sponsored a child. When he was 8, my son decided to sponsor his first child and asked me to let him give up his birthday parties to pay for it- how could he have fun for a day when someone was starving because of that one party? If there is ever a way that I have wealth to give to the world, I pledge to give it back at the end of my days- just leaving enough to my child and his children for them to be able to do whatever they want to do without having so much that they can do nothing- following in Warren Buffett's footsteps. There is a man for all of us to follow. Let change begin.

If there's one thing I've learned in life, it's that if there's something you don't like about somebody - it's because it reminds you of something you don't like in yourself. Otherwise those traits wouldn't irritate us so much! If we all took these clues as the means to learn more about how to improve ourselves, we would be able to put far more positive energy into everything we do. Instead of wasting our energy complaining, we should be examining every opportunity for the chance to learn something more. Life hands us these kinds of opportunities for a reason! Instead of wasting our time complaining, we should be taking advantage and finding out where each new opportunity will take us. THAT's the real lesson here, I think! :-)

I know wealthy AND middle class folks who prefer not to donate money. I also know wealthy and middle class folks who love to donate money. I don't think any of them are bad or good just because of the amount of money that is donated. But the ones that do donate to charities seem to have more of a purpose in their own world and in their own circles. I think Mr. Gates and Mr. Buffet are to be commended for their support in the areas they are concerned with. I especially like that they are concentrating their efforts to some of the world's most affected regions. Their contributions will be highly appreciated

"Let's see it for what it is. When we immediately assume the worst about rich people, it is really our envy talking. Instead of looking at rich people and trying to identify their faults, we should be trying to identify our own faults instead."

While envy certainly can lead to this problem -- its a too common human trait to build oneself up

I just want to say thanks to all those who have shown the way to wealth and given back to the global community along the way. Keep up the earthfamily support.

You are so right. I salute Mr & Mrs Gates and Mr Buffet, their gifts will have a very positive impact on our world. What better legacy to leave than to know that the world is a better place because you were there. I think Robirda's remarks are right on target. Many people attribute the same values that motivate them and the qualities that they hate in themselves to others. It's funny how some people respond to seeing something someone else has and they lack - such as wealth, beauty, attention, or happiness. Some people become viciously jealous and try to take this away or diminish the person possessing it. Some believe that the pie of success is limited and they want to grab up as much of it as they can for their own person enjoyment. I call that the Limited Mentality. It depletes resources. Then there are those who become inspired and motivated to create their own - who look to the person who has what they want as a role model. Personally, I choose the second approach. I prefer to approach things a bit more creatively though. OK, so there's the pie. That's nice. Lets see, what else can I create? How about baking my own cake and eating it too? Renew your resources. The more happiness I share the more comes back. The more love I give the more I find. The more beauty I create the more surrounds me. The more I help others to succeed, the the more success comes to me. Then, when I encounter that other approach, instead of reeling from the sniper's shot, I remind myself of how small, insecure and unhappy this person really must be, and if the opportunity presents itself, I try to find discreet ways to lift them up.