Originally this was going to be a bonus episode to Episode 23 Poor Jack Dorsey & The Search for Meaning Through Food. But once we bushwhacked through the billionaire weed patch it became clear that this required way more time. Because our local bamboozling billionaires were symbols, as well as the causes of a wide range of problems facing America today. Massive inequality. Stagnant and unlivable wages. A declining middle class and increased poverty too.
We start out with an illuminating discussion about what having a billion dollar means. Then take a look at the relative generosity of billionaire philanthropy (actually its not generous). Next we turn to Anand Giradharadas, author of Winners Take All: The Elite Charade of Changing The World to help understand unprecedented inequality in America, and how elite philanthropy actually maintains the status quo. In other words think of it as a 21st century opiate for the masses.
We then look at the way corporate social responsibility is a part of this charade, talk about local bamboozlers such as Uber, Apple, Elon Musk, Larry Ellison and once again poor Jack Dorsey.
While we won't be joined by any guests we'll listen to clips from Giridhardas' interviews with Amy Goodman and Trevor Noah. Catch a bit of fireworks between Bernie Sanders and Michael Bloomberg in the Nevada Democratic Presidential Primary debate back February 2020 as well as some words from George Carlin, Dr. Martin Luther King and Franklin D. Roosevelt too.
Be sure to check out the Show Notes on our Blog on our websites for a comprehensive list of links and references. And if you enjoyed this episode be sure to check out Episode 20. Amazon's Greed, Whole Foods, Costco and The Myth of the Good Wage.
Thanks for listening!
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