In the last couple of years I’ve seen people try to shift emphasis from ‘The fight isn’t Left vs Right’ it’s; ‘Everyone against the 1% billionaires’.
It’s top vs bottom. Heh.
I don’t disagree, I understand why this idea is being pushed. If the Left can persuade the Right who the real villains are and who to aim their anger at, (billionaires rather than immigrants and refugees) then we would be fighting a common enemy together.
I’m on board and I’m not going to contest this too much. However…
My problem with this idea is that it minimises the struggles of the Left, it dismisses Left vs Right ideology. It does so for the greater good and maybe I just have to accept that and suck it up?
But it’s still ultimately a case of Left vs Right.
The 1% are at best, a-political and at worst, Right wing capitalists who have exploited countless people and resources in order to gain wealth.
If you’re a billionaire, you’re automatically aligned on the Right. Even if you don’t realise or admit to it because you donate to charity or whatever, you don’t earn that money without being part of a machine. A truly socialist, equitable society wouldn’t tolerate billionaires. They shouldn’t exist.
Rich people that want to be taxed more do exist. Rich people who pay more than fairly, treat staff well and contribute positively to society exist too. I think it’s worth mentioning that. I know billionaires aren’t necessarily sitting in an evil lair, stroking a cat and building a giant laser on the moon.
That said, the wealth gap between ‘celebrity rich’ and being Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk rich is a vast chasm, difficult to comprehend.
Saying it’s ‘Everyone vs the 1%’ might as well be the same as saying ‘Left vs Right’. There is a distinction, it’s worth highlighting, but it’s a pointless semantic argument in my opinion.
They’re the same thing.
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