Kevin O'Leary is kind of a dick

[MarchHare]

Originally Posted by Zulu29

Ok, easy on the "white" privilege bs. I feel bad for people who are born into situations where it's damn near impossible for them to improve their lifestyles. That's why I donate what I can to charities that help the people who need it. I really fail to see where the race attack has a place in this discussion. Fact of the matter is I am lucky that I grew up in canada and I wish everyone across the world could enjoy the life that a child born in Canada gets, black, yellow, brown, white. All you do by saying crap like that is cause more racial strife.

Acknowledging that some people have innate advantages* in life because of the colour of their skin, or their gender, or their sexual orientation, or their nationality, etc. is not an attack. White privilege is a very real thing that exists whether you want to admit it or not. Nobody is "attacking" anyone just for the sake of being white by stating that.

*Or, perhaps more accurate, some people have innate disadvantages for those same reasons.

[troutman]

With many of the 1%, there was more luck and connections and being in the right place at the right time, than being smarter or a harder worker.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Thor

Symptoms of Psychopaths:

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radi...sychopath-test

Jon Ronson investigates whether corporate leaders can, in fact, be psychopaths by visiting a former Sunbeam CEO named Al Dunlap. This is an excerpt from Ronson's book, The Psychopath Test.

[jammies]

Nobody ever tells the story about the guy who took his life's savings, started a business, worked 16-18 hours a day and failed.

[FlamesAddiction]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

I would assume that every one of us (myself included) has a closet full of clothes that were made by 60 cent a day slaves. The Apple factory where your tablets and smartphones come from has suicide nets . Those 3.5 billion people work for us. It is a modern day version of legalized slavery.

I dunno. Instead of patting ourselves on the back for all the hard work we do maybe we should stop trying to fill our houses with crap that was made by slaves. Think about it. Does anyone really need a Chia pet? Apparently I do.

I really don't see an alternative though. If we refused to use products manufactured in 3rd world countries, it would be almost impossible to live above the poverty line in a country like Canada (try getting a half-decent job that doesn't use tools or electronics made by poor people).

We could all protest and demand better salaries for indentured laborers in 3rd world countries I suppose, but that would also raise our cost of living to an unmanageable point. I hate to say it, but if you aren't beating them, you're joining them.

Not that I agree with the current wealth distribution or think it is just, but I just don't see how the average person can break it without sacrificing themselves and their family. Honestly, humans (and most animals) are not wired to do things against self-preservation.

[V]

Weird that this is even worth discussing. One of the central tenets of capitalism is inequality. I doubt O'Leary would label himself as anything but a capitalist. Ergo, he has no issue with inequality. I would assume most titans of capitalism would agree with him.

Personally I prefer democratic socialism, but it's starting to look like even that isn't all that sustainable unless you're a relatively small country sitting on top of nearly unlimited resources.

[Regorium]

I think at some point you have to just stop feeling bad for being relatively rich in the world. You don't have to be a jerk about it like O'Leary, but really you do what you can and call it a day.

Also, I think there is a discussion about foreign aid in here and it being useless, but I would urge you to read the 2014 Gates Annual Letter: http://annualletter.gatesfoundation.org/

[Maritime Q-Scout]

Originally Posted by jammies

Nobody ever tells the story about the guy who took his life's savings, started a business, worked 16-18 hours a day and failed.

I'm on the verge of potentially doing this.

The work and hours aren't what scare me. It's putting EVERYTHING into a venture I truly believe in, and believe will be successful and still failing. This happens, and happens a lot, especially in an economically depressed area.

I know businesses that have closed here that would have flourished elsewhere.

The other thing to keep in mind is that for a large percentage of people, money isn't the only indicator for success. Family is another important consideration.

[V]

Yeah, I don't see the point of slaving away my life just so I can live in a slightly bigger house. If I can eek out a future with a nice pension and a bit of security I'll be a happy-ish guy for the rest of my life. I'd like my kids to know who I am. I feel sorry for people that justify 14-16 hour days, whether they strike it rich or not.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by FlamesAddiction

I really don't see an alternative though. If we refused to use products manufactured in 3rd world countries, it would be almost impossible to live above the poverty line in a country like Canada (try getting a half-decent job that doesn't use tools or electronics made by poor people).

We could all protest and demand better salaries for indentured laborers in 3rd world countries I suppose, but that would also raise our cost of living to an unmanageable point. I hate to say it, but if you aren't beating them, you're joining them.

Not that I agree with the current wealth distribution or think it is just, but I just don't see how the average person can break it without sacrificing themselves and their family. Honestly, humans (and most animals) are not wired to do things against self-preservation.

Well the alternative would be to start demanding fairer waged and better social programs that would allow for Canadians to purchase fair trade/fair labour goods. It's pretty easy to throw your hands up and say "Welp, nothing I can do" and then continue to vote for political parties that encourage wealth disparity, or refuse to get involved on various forms of political advocacy that I might advocate for different lifestyles.

This isn't directed at you, but I'm still amazed that people will harp about how socialism "doesn't work" while still advocating the thoroughly debunked myth of trickle down economics.

[jammies]

Originally Posted by Maritime Q-Scout

I'm on the verge of potentially doing this.

The work and hours aren't what scare me. It's putting EVERYTHING into a venture I truly believe in, and believe will be successful and still failing. This happens, and happens a lot, especially in an economically depressed area.

I have the utmost respect for people that try; it must be terrifying. Small business owners take the risks that make the economy go, and only a minority of them make a comfortable living in the long term, never mind become rich. With any luck, one of those successes will be you.

Back to the original subject: those businesspeople that do become rich aren't necessarily smarter, or harder workers, or have better ideas than those that fail. Sometimes they are just luckier, or timelier, or know/meet the right people. Remembering that, and being humble, is a lot more attractive in a wealthy person than being a d-bag who think that because everything happened to work out for them, anyone who isn't as successful is a lesser and lazier person.

[flamesfever]

Originally Posted by V

Yeah, I don't see the point of slaving away my life just so I can live in a slightly bigger house. If I can eek out a future with a nice pension and a bit of security I'll be a happy-ish guy for the rest of my life. I'd like my kids to know who I am. I feel sorry for people that justify 14-16 hour days, whether they strike it rich or not.

I agree...money isn't everything. The 14 to 16 hrs a day crowd often sacrifice things in their personal life in order to achieve financial wealth.

You just have to look at the incredibly complex wills that many of these wealthy people end up having to construct at the end of it all.

[Devils'Advocate]

I read an article once that the leading indicator of where you fall on the political spectrum is how much you believe those that are wealthy got there by luck or priveledge vs "hard work".

And "hard work" is not the right term... I know PLENTY of working poor that work their asses off to barely pay the rent. I feel guilty at times that I get paid 4 times what they do, work far less hours doing far less strenuous work. But nobody expects, say, a landscaping labourer to amass a fortune no matter how many hours they put in unless they own the business...

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by pylon

Even though this guy is a massive A-hole, I cannot disagree with his business acumen, and belief that anyone willing to work for it, and take risks, can have it.

The brothers I work for, started selling $500 beaters off of a gravel lot in an industrial area 25 years ago, and have grown their enterprise to 13 dealerships (10 brand name) millions in real estate holdings in Canada and the US, and a net worth of what I would guess to be over a billion dollars now. They did it by eating and sleeping their business, and taking some huge risks along the way. I have asked the one I see around the most what his motivation is, and he said "When the repo man, came and took my parents furniture when I was a kid, I vowed I would never put my family in a position like that."

Even though the guy would never have to work another minute in his life if he chose, you would have to hire a department of 10 guys, to get what he gets done in a day. He might be the richest guy I know, but he works harder than anyone I have seen in my life. A normal work day for him is 14-16 hours. If it means going in the back and washing used cars because we are short a guy, he'll pick up a rag and do it. Some people are just wired differently, and are willing to do anything it takes to be a success.

According to Devil's Advocate, this guy does not exist.

[macker]

Amanda Lang was always the winner. Smart/honest/sincere/liked Canadian bank stocks while O'Leary shunned her investment philosophy as boring. That is what made them interesting on BNN and then he later followed her to CBC. Lang has everything that O'Leary lacks and his bank account can never buy. One is a winner and one is a loser which makes for interesting commentary when they get wound up, although I haven't tuned in to them much since they left BNN. I always thought he acted the way he did to make things more watchable though?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Ark2

According to Devil's Advocate, this guy does not exist.

Yeah, that's exactly what he said. You know, for as much crap as us B.A.'s get, I'm quite grateful that I've taken a degree that's required functional reading comprehension skills.

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by Mister Yamoto

I would assume that every one of us (myself included) has a closet full of clothes that were made by 60 cent a day slaves. The Apple factory where your tablets and smartphones come from has suicide nets . Those 3.5 billion people work for us. It is a modern day version of legalized slavery.

I dunno. Instead of patting ourselves on the back for all the hard work we do maybe we should stop trying to fill our houses with crap that was made by slaves. Think about it. Does anyone really need a Chia pet? Apparently I do.

Right, so stop purchasing products from these companies, so they close down their sweatshops and everyone who works there gets fired. Perfect solution. Being sold into the sex trade is much better than being paid $0.05 an hour.

[Ark2]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Yeah, that's exactly what he said. You know, for as much crap as us B.A.'s get, I'm quite grateful that I've taken a degree that's required functional reading comprehension skills.

I'm beginning to doubt that...

[Devils'Advocate]

Originally Posted by Ark2

Right, so stop purchasing products from these companies, so they close down their sweatshops and everyone who works there gets fired. Perfect solution. Being sold into the sex trade is much better than being paid $0.05 an hour.

Because, that is, of course, the only two options.

Buying fair trade goods is not possible in Ark2's world?

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Ark2

Right, so stop purchasing products from these companies, so they close down their sweatshops and everyone who works there gets fired. Perfect solution. Being sold into the sex trade is much better than being paid $0.05 an hour.

You going for the logical fallacy trifecta today? Two posts and we've already seen a strawman argument and a false dilemma. What's your next move, champ?