If these arrogant billionaires actually paid their fair share in taxes, we’d have more than enough money to take care of terrestrial matters and explore space.
It wouldn’t bankrupt them; they’d still have plenty of money to channel into their narcissistic, attention-seeking vanity projects. But we’d also have more resources to make sure people are fed, clothed, housed and educated. It doesn’t have to be an either/or question-- it can be “yes, and.”
But that’s less likely to happen when billionaires would rather hoard their wealth, spending it only on self-aggrandizing ventures, designed to make themselves look like heroes (and coincidentally, creating another field to monopolize and profit from, increasing their wealth even more.)
And before anyone says it, I’m in favor of space exploration. The scientific lessons learned benefit all of us. But the purpose behind all this isn’t to learn and improve lives-- it’s to boost egos. So sorry, I won’t be applauding these billionaires and their rocket-measuring contests. They aren’t heroes and they aren’t thinking of anyone else but themselves.
