The Super Rich and US
BBC (2015)
Film Review
The Super Rich and Us features casual cameos of British billionaires openly displaying their narcissistic indulgence in trophy assets. There is also a brief appearance by economist and author Thomas Piketty (Capital in the Twenty-First Century). The goal of the documentary is twofold: to debunk trickle down theory and to critique government policies that have made Britain one of the most unequal nations on the planet.
The filmmakers maintain that Britain’s top 1% generates and consumes all the so-called growth the UK has experienced over the last five years. None of it derives from increased investment, job growth, wages or productivity.
The British 1% has doubled their income between 1980 and 2015, while income for everyone else has stagnated or declined. Likewise the Conservative government’s 80 billion pounds in austerity cuts is roughly equal to the bonuses banks paid out to CEOs.
Why Britain Has the Most Billionaires
The UK has more billionaires per head (104) than any other country. This stems largely from a policy decision to compensate for factories moving overseas by making the country a tax haven for rich colonials seeking to avoid taxes in their own country – under the delusional belief it would make everyone else richer.
In the 1980s, Margaret Thatcher significantly reduced taxes on Britain’s native millionaires and billionaires. She argued, as Reagan did in the US, that taxing the rich made society poorer. These policies, which have changed little over thirty years, have made Britain the world’s favorite tax haven, as international pressure forces other traditional tax havens (Switzerland, Luxemburg, Cayman Islands, etc) to shut up shop.
Trickle Up vs Trickle Down
Thanks to the wholesale repeal of banking and corporate regulations, none of this surplus wealth trickled down to the rest of the population the way Thatcher claimed it would. Instead the super rich have been sucking up shrinking lower and middle classes resources into their vast reservoir of private wealth. The main reason trickle down doesn’t work is that the 1% spends their surplus wealth on diamond jewelry, yachts, sports cars and other luxury goods that generate income for only a handful (if any – most of these goods are imported) of working people.
The film contrasts British tax policies with those of Sweden and Denmark, which the rich pay a fair share of taxes. Not only do both have GDPs equal to or higher than the UK’s, with numbers that reflect genuine improvement in productivity and job and wage growth. When polled, eighty-eight percent of Danish people are perfectly happy with their tax rate because they see it reflected in generous government services.
The Most Revolutionary Act 
So Britain is one of the most unequal nations on the planet – – –
For how long do they think they can keep this up?
LikeLike
I suppose a lot depends on how things play out in Greece. If they new left wing Syriza Party fails to resolve the economic mess by withdrawing from the Euro and repudiating their banking debt, I suspect most of Europe will give up on electoral politics and resort to insurrection.
LikeLike
Makes one wonder if the super-rich, accustomed to buying “big” things, have found suppliers of extremely large needles – so large their pet camels can pass through the needle’s eye, “guaranteeing” a heavenly afterlife. Certainly a fascinating, thought-provoking, historical human phenomenon.
LikeLike
Interesting observation. Makes me wonder if rich people use the same Bible as other Christians or if they have their own version.
LikeLike
I doubt that they would be much concerned about what it says in the bible.
LikeLike
Your comment to me about explaining why people are still stuck in ancient religions. Here is an example of the extreme edge of these ancient religions that still exist today:
I posted this. I knew there was a reason I felt compelled, fifteen years ago, to walk away from Christendom and all religions, beyond my own personal ones. And here it is, in all of it’s ugliness!
LikeLike
You have to say one thing about organized religion: it’s an extremely ingenious method for the ruling elite to maintain absolute control over their subjects.
LikeLike
I believe, without proof, of course, that religion was founded by the elite eons ago for this very purpose. In Merica, the far right religious, as this article points out, are the stooges used to help keep this miserable system/order up and running.
Blind, ignorant sheep!
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Citizens, not serfs.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on Britain Isn't Eating.
LikeLike
Reblogged this on News for the Revolution.
LikeLike
Looks this video is blocked on YouTube. Try Daily Motion: http://documentaryaddict.com/the+superrich+and+us+episode+1-12907-doc.html
LikeLike
Thanks, JoAnn. The new link works fine. I notice that YouTube is really quick to take down politically controversial videos.
LikeLike
Pingback: The 1% at Their Finest, Film and Review | Tales from the Conspiratum
Great post and so true. I just hope that people see this and vote for change and not because the media says to. This country needs something radical to happen and fast! I’m a great fan of the Scandinavian models, if things don’t improve here it’s definitely where I will consider moving too!!!
LikeLike
Unfortunately, moving is only partial solution. The reason I really like living in new Zealand is because people are somewhat less apathetic here and more willing to work for radical change. Unfortunately, though, even Kiwis are basically under the control of multinational corporations.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: Who Was Rosa Luxemburg? | Worldtruth