5 Signs That Extreme Wealth Deadens 'Empathy' & 'Honesty' Parts Of The Brain

[appalachiablue]

Here are 5 signs extreme wealth deadens the 'empathy' & 'honesty' parts of the brain. The wealthy give plenty of excuses for our outrageously unjust society. They just go to show that extreme wealth can destroy your brain. Paul Buchheit, AlterNet, Nov. 16, 2018.

As we try to grasp the reasoning behind cuts to life-saving programs while billion-dollar incomes and trillion-dollar profits are being made, we must understand that extreme wealth deadens parts of the brain. Empathy and honesty go first, then rationality, as evidenced by some of the outlandish excuses given by the very rich for their abuses.

1. Excuses For Inequality. Here's what Goldman Sachs adviser Brian Griffith said about it: "We have to tolerate the inequality as a way to achieve greater prosperity and opportunity for all."

U.S. wealth distribution has become so extreme that nearly half of America has, on the average, ZERO WEALTH (debt exceeds assets). As for income, the richest 1% seemed to perform the impossible from 2009 to 2011, capturing more than 100% of the income gains (income decreased for the other 99%).

As irrational as it might seem to find an excuse for all this, the Heritage Foundation is up to the task, claiming that poor Americans are actually doing quite well with their TVs and air conditioners. Never mind that debt for the poorest quintile of Americans averages $27,000 more than their possessions.

2. Excuses For Bank Fraud.. 3. A Dormant Minimum Wage.. 4. Excuses For Not Paying Taxes.. 5. Excuses For No Taxes At All.. READ MORE...

https://www.alternet.org/here-are-5-signs-extreme-wealth-deadens-empathy-and-honesty-parts-brain

[democratisphere]

1. The Road to Riches is crooked.

Always has been. Always will be.

[mart48]

2. Average debt

"Never mind that debt for the poorest quintile of Americans averages $27,000 more than their possessions. "

Given the U.S. 20 trillion dollar national debt, which is approximately $60,000 per person, I'd say the $27,000 figure is too low.

[Nitram]

3. I've gotten to know some of the 1%, and this is entirely accurate. They can be charming,

likeable, seemingly "natural," but underneath that facade is a cold-hearted obsession with holding on to and increasing their wealth with no thought of the cost to other people.

[Nitram]

4. It's interesting that Franklin is on the $100 bill. He did not come from an aristocratic background,

but worked his way up from a penniless state. Even after he achieved considerable success, Franklin continued to work towards improving the lives of his fellow citizens.