Why no person should ever be allowed to have a trillion dollars
By
Michael Mechanic
Summary
This article argues that no individual should be allowed to accumulate a trillion dollars in personal wealth. It uses vivid analogies (counting to a trillion takes 12,000+ years) and historical examples (Robber Barons, medieval kings) to illustrate the absurd scale of such wealth. The piece critiques extreme wealth concentration as a threat to democracy, arguing that billionaires wield disproportionate political power and that their fortunes are built on exploited labor and public infrastructure. It calls for higher taxes, stronger unions, and systemic changes to prevent oligarchy.
Source
bskyWhy no person should ever be allowed to have a trillion dollarsmotherjones.comKey quotes
· 5 pulledCounting to a trillion would then take 380 billion seconds. That's 12,050 years.
No human being should ever be allowed to have a trillion dollars. Not Elon Musk. Not anyone.
The problem isn't just that one person has too much. It's that their wealth gives them power over the rest of us.
We've seen this before. The Robber Barons of the Gilded Age. The kings and emperors of old. It always ends badly.
A trillion dollars isn't just a number. It's a political statement. It says: I have more power than your vote.
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