'Tom Perkins was right: We do hate the rich. And for good reason.'
Source: VentureBeat
By Dylan Tweney
... I wonder why that might be? Could it have something to do with the way America’s economy has grown out of recession for the past seven years, but the vast majority of that growth has gone to the wealthy instead of working people? Could it have to do with the fact that the stock market has increased vastly since 2007, but wages have not only stagnated, they’ve declined substantially relative to 1970 levels?
Could it have to do with the alleged collusion between the chief executives of Silicon Valley’s largest companies — Google, Apple, Intel, and Adobe — to keep salaries down by not “poaching” employees from one another, as you’d ordinarily be able to do in a free market?
... Perkins is right: People don’t like him and his fellow “one percenters.” Perhaps that is a flaw in the American psyche, a refusal to celebrate our most successful entrepreneurs and wealth creators. But I don’t think so: The wealthy have never wanted for people to celebrate them. I think it is because the wealthy have forgotten how to say “enough.” They have forgotten how to give back. And they have increasingly refused to participate in the common welfare.
No wonder people hate them.
It’s probably too late for Tom Perkins. He’ll never change his mind. But for younger Silicon Valley entrepreneurs, investors, and techies, it’s not too late. Many of you talk of “changing the world” as being a stronger motivation than getting rich. Now’s the time to do it. Take a look around you. Are people pissed off at your presence? Are people protesting the bus that takes you to work? Maybe it’s time to think about why that might be, and what you can do about it.
Read more: http://venturebeat.com/2014/01/27/tom-perkins-was-right/
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