Monday, June 27, 2011

On Hating the Rich: From My Point of View!

It’s fashionable these days to disparage or perhaps even hate the rich - the 1% as they're referred to in the press nowadays. This may not stem from jealousy or envy alone, but possibly from some real or imagined moral indignation at the inequality of the social classes. Some go as far as to say they feel enslaved by the rich. At the very least, there’s a great deal of interest in the subjectIf you Google the words “hating the rich” you’ll see about fifteen million entries pop up!

As the Butler here in a billionaire's house I have some thoughts I’d like to share, and I’m neither defending nor berating the rich - just pointing out some observations that might not readily come to mind. We often hear the argument that the rich create jobs. Who can argue with that? Of course they do, but not just the obvious jobs in the corporations they own, but what about all the jobs created by their needs and by their unlimited desires?   

If you have a moment, let me trace just one product in this house throughout its developmental stages. And since I've mentioned Beluga caviar more than once, let’s take a look at that:

-   Somewhere in the Caspian Sea at this very moment there’s a lonely fisherman sitting out in a boat, waiting for a sturgeon to swim by.
-   If he’s lucky enough to catch one, he’ll harvest the eggs and return the fish to the sea.
-   He then takes his catch to a small factory that will wash and process the roe, and then the market-ready product will be put into specially manufactured jars or cans.
-    Specific labels will have already been designed and printed, depending upon the age of the fish.
-    The finished product is delivered to a wholesaler, who will then  distribute it to retailers all around the world.
-    Transportation includes everything from a horse-drawn cart, to refrigerated trucks and overnight jets to get the product to market.
-    And finally the precious caviar arrives at some upscale retailer whose staff is eager to be of assistance.
-    However, you can skip the visit to the retailer if you wish and utilize the vast network of technology to order online, and have the product delivered by UPS or Fed Ex!

Well, that’s a lot of people involved, is it not? And a lot of jobs - just because these rich people I work for want to serve caviar at a cocktail party.  

Likewise, you can trace my employers' Cartier and Tiffany jewelry all the way from the retailer on Fifth Avenue in New York to the diamond mines, and the stone cutters and jewelry designers in between. Or the designs from our local florist all the way back to the greenhouses in Hawaii or California. In fact, for a large party here at the Residence, there could be literally tens of thousands of jobs behind the scenes supplying this house with wine and spirits, hors d’oeuvres, designer cocktail napkins, engraved invitations, flowers, candles, haute couture, furs, perfumes, shoe polish, silver polish - and on and on.

Not to mention all the musicians, waiters, bartenders, valet parkers and security personnel engaged for the evening. And lets not forget all the farmers and fishermen behind the scenes who's labors feed all of us, and who's products might be ultimately called hors d'oeuvres in some circles. A lot of jobs, indeed. And it can't be denied the desires of the rich spur endless innovation and artistic creativity - to compete for their dollars. 

I don’t really have a horse in this race, having no opinion one way or another. And this is not an assignation with trickle-down economics, but merely confronting reality. The rich have always been and will always be with us. Even during the decades-long experiment with communism, a rich and powerful class rose to the top, did it not? From my point of view I see both the good and bad sides. But it seems to me that hating the rich is an absurd waste of time, as Oscar Wilde might say. 

I’m fully aware how sophomoric this essay must appear to some. But to just hate the rich and blindly blame them for all our woes is somewhat sophomoric as well, don’t you think?  

I hope this wasn't a colossal waste of your time. Thanks for stopping by tonight,

Andrew


18 comments:

  1. Andrew dear,
    I've been reading your blog by email feed since my WP goddess friend Kimberly told me about you, and I've loved every word, every Ha! and drooled over every delicious description of your world.

    But you've surpassed yourself here ~ a truly non-judgemental treatise one of the most unproductive mindsets of the masses.

    After all, most of us want to be rich, but if you despise rich people, you'll never get rich because your beliefs won't let you.

    One can do far more good for the world by being wealthy than by being poor.

    As Sophie Tucker said -
    "I've been rich and I've been poor. Rich is better."

    Bliss-ings,
    the goddess known as Jacqui

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    1. To Goddess Jacqui!

      Thanks so much for your comment and understanding. As you say, it's a definite dichotomy to both hate the rich and want to join their ranks at the same time! Ha!

      And thanks for mentioning Sophie Tucker -- her wit and wisdom get me completely hysterical!

      Your web page is lovely, and I'll be looking forward to any future comments and wisdom from "The Goddess"!

      Andrew

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  2. I don't hate the rich dang it!!! I just HATE that I'M NOT RICH!!!! *** giggling***

    Life in the the poor family where I happen to work creates very few positions that are profitable unfortunately. You see, I am the breadwinner, the chef, the maid, the laundress, AND sometimes even the entertainment, the BOSS too, because I am just a mom. I wouldn't trade my world for anything, but LOVE to read your blogs!!! As I read your posts (frequently) I pretend that I'm a fly on the wall watching everything that takes place at "The Residence"..

    Your blogs make my day & remind me that some fairy tales ARE true!!

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    1. Dear Luv 2 Be!

      Being "just a mom" has got to be one of the most challenging and rewarding jons that life has to offer.

      Congratulations to you! You are making a far more important contribution to this world than I am, by far.

      Good night,
      Andrew

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  3. Thank you Andrew!! You're too kind! At any rate, please keep blogging as I love to read & "escape reality"!

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    1. No, the thanks go to you! And if you're wanting to escape "realty", you're in the right place here!

      This billionaire world I'm working in has no relationship to reality whatsoever! Ha!

      Andrew

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  4. I totally agree on this. My dad told me once: "The United States of America is the land of opportunities and promises because of its high demand in employees, different jobs and professions. And this is all thank to the high needs of the 'new money'."
    Though to my family we are more of the... 'old money', some of the elders' attitudes in their name and pride really bugs me sometimes. I think people stereotype the rich to appear arrogant and don't know what 'real life' is (I have been told to my face that once...). But I just see them as people who have different worries and problems. They play a big role in the hierarchy of society.
    Off topic, this morning while being served breakfast I told Gerald, our butler, about your blog and things that I've read here. And because my uncle and aunt was out, he opened up to me a bit more as we laugh at trivial things that go on 'behind the scenes' with the household staff. For the first time ever since my arrival here that I actually felt relaxed and comfortable around him, so I am so thankful that I came across this blog. It was not a coincident, must be inevitable. I hope to exchange e-mails in the future, we have so many things in common!
    Good day,
    Elly L.

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    1. Thank you for this comment, Elly L.

      I agree with you: rich people do indeed know what "real life" is all about.

      Although decidedly on a different scale, they are faced with money issues and decisions like everyone else. And they face the same issues of health, aging and mortality as the poorest of the poor.

      I'm delighted you've found this blog interesting and helpful, and that you're sharing it with your Butler, Gerald. (I'm sure he could teach me a thing or two about being a proper butler!)

      Please give him my regards, and please stop by here anytime!

      Good night,
      Andrew

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  5. OK. I get it. But why are rich people so greedy? They want to take away our Social Security and Medicare, and they don't want poor people to have health insurabce. What's that all about, and why are you defending them?

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    1. To "Anonymous" above.

      Thank you for this comment, but I want to be very careful here, since this is not a political site.

      What you've just described above are the platforms of the "small-government" Republican party. But you've seemingly assigned all rich people to that particular point of view.

      However, all Republicans are not rich! And rich people are not all Republicans!

      Likewise, all Democrats are no poor (Teddy Kennedy)! And all poor people are not Democrats!

      So while I definitely understand your concerns, this is not the right webpage to air it.

      I'm just reporting on the fun and crazy lifestyles of people with money. Not their political affiliations.

      Hope you undertstand, and thank you for reading!

      Andrew

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  6. Andrew, what you just said to the comment above is the reason I keep following you. In all I've read, from your job perspective you have a unique insight, and yet you seem to remain objective and fair to everyone. Thank you for that.

    Miriam in Newport

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    1. To Miriam in Newport!

      You cannot possibly imagine how much I appreciate what you just said!

      Thank you for following, and for your comment! Please do stop by here anytime.

      Andrew

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  7. An outstanding article, Andrew! Thank you so much for sharing this. You've opened my eyes to some things I never really considered. Mrs. LRS

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    1. Thank you, Mrs LRS!

      I very much appreciate your kind words!

      Andrew

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  8. I've just discovered your webpage Andrew, and just wanted to say this post is truly noteworthy! Very even handed, and sheds a different light on the way things are.

    Douglas

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    1. To Douglas!

      Forgive me, but have just now found your comment, three months later! (And I'm blaming my editor for this!)

      But you really lifted me up with this comment. And thank you for that!

      Please don't go away because of my tardiness!

      Andrew

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  9. Pretty much the same old "rich people create jobs" argument. Wouldn't expect it from someone who studied history and sociology, are you familiar with the concept of surplus value?

    I think you're oversimplifying the whole subject.

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    1. Hello "Anonymous".

      No one is suggesting the rich create GREAT jobs! Ha! Just jobs.

      Of course I'm aware of Karl Marx and his elaboration upon the concept of "surplus value". (But I'm also aware of the dictatorships that are seemingly required to implement his lofty goals.)

      In western democracies, fortunately we have Labor Unions that struggle to get at least SOME share in the "surplus value" -- in the form of higher wages -- for workers. Without them, we would ALL be working for minimum wage.

      Thanks for commenting, and expanding the topic.

      Andrew

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