2011: A record year in numbers, money and impact
This 25th year of tracking global wealth was one to remember. The Forbes 2011 Billionaires List breaks two records: number of billionaires (1,210) and combined wealth ($4.5 trillion).
This combined wealth surpasses the gross domestic product of Germany, one of only six nations to have fewer billionaires this year than in 2010. Brazil, Russia, India and China produced 108 of this year's 214 new names. These four nations are home to one in four members, up from one in 10 five years ago.
Before this year only the United States had produced more than 100 billionaires. China now has 115 and Russia 101.
Wealth creation is moving at an especially breakneck pace in the Asia-Pacific region, which has a record 332 billionaires, up from 234 a year ago and 130 at the depth of the financial crisis in 2009. Sizzling stock markets are behind this surge.
America's wealthiest still dominate the global ranks, but the U.S. is losing its grip. One in three billionaires is an American, down from nearly one in two a decade ago. It has 10 more than last year but 56 fewer than its 2008 peak.
Still there are inspiring newcomers. An obvious example is Facebook, which has spawned six billionaires, including chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, whose fortune this year jumped 238% to $13.5 billion.
The frenzy among investors for all things social pushed up private market values of online gaming outfit Zynga and made a billionaire of founder and chief executive Mark Pincus. Other notable American newcomers to the Forbes list include Groupon backer Eric Lefkofsky.
Why do we spend so much time tracking other people's money? It's because these moguls have the power to shape our world. Telecom billionaire turned prime minister-designate Najib Mikati is keeping Lebanon's government together. Swiss-Italian entrepreneur Ernesto Bertarelli is focusing on saving the oceans. And Bill Gates and Warren Buffett have traveled to three continents working to raise philanthropic awareness among the ultra-rich.
Comment:
Comrades, this is enough to make your blood boil. The Working Class, especially the White Working Class make less and less. Prices get higher and higher (and the government has the gall to say the cost of living is NOT rising), while these blood suckers get richer and richer. Worst of all, they're profiting by our misfortunes. They are leeches, plain and simple. Blood sucking leeches.
Why do the sheeple continue to put up with this? Most are conditioned now to be wage-slaves, plus are heavy into debt. Not to mention that they are misguided enough to believe that they too could someday be one of the elite. Not bloody likely. The system is rigged so that only the wealthy can be a part of it. You know, the old, "It takes money to make money" saying. Oh, a few get lucky and make it. But that's a fluke, like winning the lottery. In realty comrades, do you think you have a snowball's chance in hell of ever becoming wealthy, no matter how hard you work?
Now, I don't want to be accused of incitement to revolution, but the time grows ever nearer. I'm rather angry right now. I'd better stop before I say something I'll regret. After all, I wouldn't want the Feds paying me a visit tomorrow because of what I posted tonight!
I think that when the sheeple's own families are seen to be in clear and present danger, and their own livelihood and basic lebensraum (living room, or space) is finally and clearly threatened with extinction, you will then hear the angry cries of the working White man and woman saying "No" at long last to the elite's callous remarks of "Let them eat cake", as Marie Antoinette once intoned. Who knows? Even the guillotine may come back in style, eh?
ReplyDeleteDr. Johann Hauptmann 88!
I only hope then when ALL of our Folk finally do awaken, it won't be too late. That time is around 2040. That's only 29 years. Us old-timers most likely won't be around to see it, but to you comrades under say about 45, it will come sooner than you think.
ReplyDeleteDan 88!