FabSwingers.com forum: Why do rich people want to rule?

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Just a thought I had. I'm thinking of the Sunaks/Trumps of this world. Why do they actually want to rule? I seriously doubt they care at all about the majority who are so v different to them in economic/lifestyle terms.

The Trumps/Sunaks etc have more money than they will ever need. They can live stress free lives in the height of luxury in some tropical paradise if they wish.

Ruling means work/stress + exposure to scrutiny they often are v ill equipped to deal with.

So why bother? Is it all just about ego? something else?

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By *ohnnyTwoNotesMan
over a year ago

golden fields

"Just a thought I had. I'm thinking of the Sunaks/Trumps of this world. Why do they actually want to rule? I seriously doubt they care at all about the majority who are so v different to them in economic/lifestyle terms.

The Trumps/Sunaks etc have more money than they will ever need. They can live stress free lives in the height of luxury in some tropical paradise if they wish.

Ruling means work/stress + exposure to scrutiny they often are v ill equipped to deal with.

So why bother? Is it all just about ego? something else?"

Personally I think it's a combination of.

1. The see it as a game. Normal humans are just pawns to them.

2. Because they thing it'll give them more opportunities to get even richer.

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

Power, control and the opportunity to maintain and increase their wealth. I doubt they ever feel they have enough wealth, it's not about what money can buy for them it's just about actually having it

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By *otMe66Man
over a year ago

Terra Firma

They don't rule, they govern.

Governing in the UK is through selection within the party and election at the ballot box.

From that point of view I can imagine they see it as the ultimate validation of their worth, there is no higher place to be and they have been placed their by peers and the the public.

Ambition or ego, possibly both.

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By *queakyclean69erCouple
over a year ago

Torquay / Fleet

The Trumps/Sunaks etc have more money than they will ever need. They can live stress free lives in the height of luxury in some tropical paradise if they wish.

Ruling means work/stress + exposure to scrutiny they often are v ill equipped to deal with.

So why bother? Is it all just about ego? something else?"

The same could be said for the “ Men of the people Socalists “ Corbyn & Starmer

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

The Trumps/Sunaks etc have more money than they will ever need. They can live stress free lives in the height of luxury in some tropical paradise if they wish.

Ruling means work/stress + exposure to scrutiny they often are v ill equipped to deal with.

So why bother? Is it all just about ego? something else?

The same could be said for the “ Men of the people Socalists “ Corbyn & Starmer"

You really have been brainwashed into hating Corbyn, haven't you? You bring him up all the time.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Fear

It's the primary motivation for most people

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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago

Dubai & Nottingham

"They don't rule, they govern.

Governing in the UK is through selection within the party and election at the ballot box.

From that point of view I can imagine they see it as the ultimate validation of their worth, there is no higher place to be and they have been placed their by peers and the the public.

Ambition or ego, possibly both.

Yes I think a mix of ego and altruism for some, often strangely as it sounds the two are blurred.

Many start off wanting to do good , and few survive once they get the position. Obama is probably a good example of those trie to original beliefs and Blair one that got very lost.

In the west it’s not about money , there’s much easier ways to make much more money than implementing and changing policy.

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By *rHotNottsMan
over a year ago

Dubai & Nottingham

The Trumps/Sunaks etc have more money than they will ever need. They can live stress free lives in the height of luxury in some tropical paradise if they wish.

Ruling means work/stress + exposure to scrutiny they often are v ill equipped to deal with.

So why bother? Is it all just about ego? something else?

The same could be said for the “ Men of the people Socalists “ Corbyn & Starmer"

Well they are pretty good examples. Unlike people like Angela Rayner, Neither of them understand the people they claim to stand for, they are the modern day Karl Marx / Lenin - privileged academics who claim to know best what poor people want

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By *ohnnyTwoNotesMan
over a year ago

golden fields

"Fear

It's the primary motivation for most people "

They do it because they're afraid, or to create fear?

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By *irldnCouple
over a year ago

Brighton

The Trumps/Sunaks etc have more money than they will ever need. They can live stress free lives in the height of luxury in some tropical paradise if they wish.

Ruling means work/stress + exposure to scrutiny they often are v ill equipped to deal with.

So why bother? Is it all just about ego? something else?"

Having the power to set laws, legislation and regulations provides the opportunity to further enrich themselves and their friends, family, cronies (and controllers/debtors).

Look at Sunak...has he done anything about Non Dom status? Did he press ahead with IR35 destroying the freelance sector and creating opportunities for consultancies like Infosys (his wife and father-in-law’s company) to hoover up lucrative contracts. Has he enabled the relaxation of rules introduced after the financial crisis (remind me who he used to work for and his part in contributing to the financial crisis in 2007-8?). Etc ad infinitum!

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By *I TwoCouple
over a year ago

PDI 12-26th Nov 24

The Trumps/Sunaks etc have more money than they will ever need. They can live stress free lives in the height of luxury in some tropical paradise if they wish.

Ruling means work/stress + exposure to scrutiny they often are v ill equipped to deal with.

So why bother? Is it all just about ego? something else?

The same could be said for the “ Men of the people Socalists “ Corbyn & Starmer

You really have been brainwashed into hating Corbyn, haven't you? You bring him up all the time.

To be fair he's not hard to hate lol

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By *ackohudsonMan
over a year ago

oxford

In trump's case, I think it is purely ego and power. Potus is seen as the most powerful position in the world and he sees himself as the most wonderful person in the world. In sunaks case, I think it must also be partly about ego and power but I think there is also a belief of contributing and making things better. I don't believe it is about enriching himself further.

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By *queakyclean69erCouple
over a year ago

Torquay / Fleet

The Trumps/Sunaks etc have more money than they will ever need. They can live stress free lives in the height of luxury in some tropical paradise if they wish.

Ruling means work/stress + exposure to scrutiny they often are v ill equipped to deal with.

So why bother? Is it all just about ego? something else?

The same could be said for the “ Men of the people Socalists “ Corbyn & Starmer

You really have been brainwashed into hating Corbyn, haven't you? You bring him up all the time.

Brainwashed? All the time? Let me guess you were / are a Corbyn fan boy?

He was such a great success for the Labour Party !

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

The Trumps/Sunaks etc have more money than they will ever need. They can live stress free lives in the height of luxury in some tropical paradise if they wish.

Ruling means work/stress + exposure to scrutiny they often are v ill equipped to deal with.

So why bother? Is it all just about ego? something else?

The same could be said for the “ Men of the people Socalists “ Corbyn & Starmer

You really have been brainwashed into hating Corbyn, haven't you? You bring him up all the time.

Brainwashed? All the time? Let me guess you were / are a Corbyn fan boy?

He was such a great success for the Labour Party ! "

Yes, you bring him up all the time. You seem obsessed with him.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

To those who think it's about the rich getting more money/power, that doesn't really make sense it you think about it.

The likes of Sunak/Trump have so much money an extra few hundred million will literally make no difference to their life at all. So there's no material benefit to them financially.

And when it comes to power, they'd have more power by just throwing money around behind the scenes if they wanted. By becoming public rulers, their actions and finances are suddenly far more scrutinised. I'd argue that actually decreases their power.

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By *ohnnyTwoNotesMan
over a year ago

golden fields

"In trump's case, I think it is purely ego and power. Potus is seen as the most powerful position in the world and he sees himself as the most wonderful person in the world. In sunaks case, I think it must also be partly about ego and power but I think there is also a belief of contributing and making things better. I don't believe it is about enriching himself further. "

I hope you're right.

Everything about Sunak points to ££££ though.

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By *ackal1Couple
over a year ago

Manchester

"To those who think it's about the rich getting more money/power, that doesn't really make sense it you think about it.

The likes of Sunak/Trump have so much money an extra few hundred million will literally make no difference to their life at all. So there's no material benefit to them financially.

I think there’s a lot of merit in your post.

I wonder though when someone is soo rich are they not only surrounded by yes minister MPs but their private lives are also full of yes sir.

So in the end they believe they are right and no one questions them or their political beliefs.

Sunak as rich and as intelligent as he is still believes in trickle down economics.

Why? Has he been indoctrinated ?

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By *irldnCouple
over a year ago

Brighton

"To those who think it's about the rich getting more money/power, that doesn't really make sense it you think about it.

The likes of Sunak/Trump have so much money an extra few hundred million will literally make no difference to their life at all. So there's no material benefit to them financially.

I can’t agree sorry. Power begets power. It is an ego boost. It is the next step in their self affirmation of they own greatness. Nobody NEEDS more than a few hundred million £ but nonetheless the very wealthy do all they can to not just protect but also to grow that wealth. It becomes like a competition.

And let’s be honest. As rich as Sunak is (Trump’s wealth is more questionable and seems to exist more on paper than in reality) he is a minnow compared to the super super wealthy!

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"To those who think it's about the rich getting more money/power, that doesn't really make sense it you think about it.

The likes of Sunak/Trump have so much money an extra few hundred million will literally make no difference to their life at all. So there's no material benefit to them financially.

And let’s be honest. As rich as Sunak is (Trump’s wealth is more questionable and seems to exist more on paper than in reality) he is a minnow compared to the super super wealthy!"

But Sunak could easily get more wealthy without being a ruler. His current position seriously risks bringing far greater scrutiny to his finances + those of his wife & her family. So it doesn't seem a smart move if chasing money is hie dream.

I agree it's likely an ego thing, though.

As for Trump, who knows how rich he really is?

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By *irateBayMan
over a year ago

Near Wroxham

My belief is that these people are worryingly high on the psychopathy scale and it is that psychopathic behaviour that drives them. It's not necessarily a bad thing, without these people taking on the positions of power and influence very little would actually get done.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"My belief is that these people are worryingly high on the psychopathy scale and it is that psychopathic behaviour that drives them. It's not necessarily a bad thing, without these people taking on the positions of power and influence very little would actually get done. "

Oh I can well believe these people have psychopathic traits.

There's an argument such people can have value in certain situations. But I think if they're in power & can do pretty much what they want they're more likely to do harm.

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By *irateBayMan
over a year ago

Near Wroxham

Oh I can well believe these people have psychopathic traits.

There's an argument such people can have value in certain situations. But I think if they're in power & can do pretty much what they want they're more likely to do harm."

I don't disagree; a psychopath with unchecked power is a very dangerous thing.

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By *irldnCouple
over a year ago

Brighton

Oh I can well believe these people have psychopathic traits.

There's an argument such people can have value in certain situations. But I think if they're in power & can do pretty much what they want they're more likely to do harm.

I don't disagree; a psychopath with unchecked power is a very dangerous thing. "

I recall some research into FTSE100 CEOs and how the majority (or certainly a very high proportion) scored highly on the sociopath scale (might have been psychopath scale but confess to not really knowing the difference without looking it up).

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

This government has proved to me that absolute power corrupts absolutely

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By *ackal1Couple
over a year ago

Manchester

It appears that the think tanks based in Tufton street have driven the legislation on anti protesting especially against the environmental or green lobby.

Turns out over £500m has been donated by mostly American based funders to these and similar think tanks. Who’s behind the donations . Big oil money .

What a surprise .

Money corrupts far more than just filling the pockets of MPs . It funds the direction of our political narrative . Tufton street drives great swathes of the Tory party policy.

The revelation of the funding is through American declaration laws and the U.K. funders who are also dropping in many millions are hidden from view.

Surely any charity ( yep some declare as charities) or think tank must declare donations if they are used for government policy?

Money, money and yet more money is the driver.

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By *heshbifellaMan
over a year ago

Nantwich

The Trumps/Sunaks etc have more money than they will ever need. They can live stress free lives in the height of luxury in some tropical paradise if they wish.

Ruling means work/stress + exposure to scrutiny they often are v ill equipped to deal with.

So why bother? Is it all just about ego? something else?

The same could be said for the “ Men of the people Socalists “ Corbyn & Starmer

You really have been brainwashed into hating Corbyn, haven't you? You bring him up all the time.

Brainwashed? All the time? Let me guess you were / are a Corbyn fan boy?

He was such a great success for the Labour Party !

Yes, you bring him up all the time. You seem obsessed with him."

Some might say you seem obsessed with Rishi Sunak. As evidenced here and in your recent 'How out of touch is Sunak?' thread, amongst others.

Some might ask if you have been brainwashed into hating Sunak?

Most people are delighted to see this country's first British Asian PM. I certainly am - are you?

Most people were equally delighted to see the back of Corbyn. Were you with them?

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By *uck-RogersMan
over a year ago

Tarka trail

Greed

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

The Trumps/Sunaks etc have more money than they will ever need. They can live stress free lives in the height of luxury in some tropical paradise if they wish.

Ruling means work/stress + exposure to scrutiny they often are v ill equipped to deal with.

So why bother? Is it all just about ego? something else?

The same could be said for the “ Men of the people Socalists “ Corbyn & Starmer

You really have been brainwashed into hating Corbyn, haven't you? You bring him up all the time.

Brainwashed? All the time? Let me guess you were / are a Corbyn fan boy?

He was such a great success for the Labour Party !

Yes, you bring him up all the time. You seem obsessed with him.

Some might say you seem obsessed with Rishi Sunak. As evidenced here and in your recent 'How out of touch is Sunak?' thread, amongst others.

Some might ask if you have been brainwashed into hating Sunak?

Most people are delighted to see this country's first British Asian PM. I certainly am - are you?

Most people were equally delighted to see the back of Corbyn. Were you with them?

lol pretty desperate of you. I've done v few threads on Sunak actually. Possibly just two? I don't know. I wasn't keeping as close a watch on this as you, apparently.

Since you bring it up, I am rather disgusted by the way Sunak is trying to pretend he was nothing to do with the toxic Johnson regime while he was at the heart of it. I'm also disgusted he was implicated in Partygate.

And I'm less than impressed by the v dubious financial arrangements of him & his mrs. Highlights: the fact he had a US green card while he was Chancellor here. Massive conflict of interest there. His wife was/is? a non domm to dodge taxes here while he was the top tax guy. That's simply ridiculous. And they were/are? getting financial benefits from a company operating in Russia even after he became PM. Pretty bonkers, given what has been going on.

What else? I'm also disgusted Sunak seems to be doing fuck all while the NHS crumbles & more and more people die. In fact, I'm sure he's cheering on the demise as it'll be a pretext to privatise the lot.

So I guess on the whole I'm really not impressed by him. For what I consider actual reasons as opposed to the brainwashing you imply.

Am I delighted he's PM. No, for the reasons stated above. I would however be delighted to have a PM of any race if they actually did a good job & seemed to give a shit about the public of this country.

Was I delighted to see the back of Corbyn? Not partiularly. Unlike Cameron/May/Johnson/Truss/Sunak, Corbyn actually did seem to give a shit about people. Then again, he's history now & nothing to do with this thread anyway.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

Back on the topic of why do rich people want to rule?

Some counterexamples: Gates/ Bezos/Musk. As far as I know, none of them have shown a desire to rule in a political sense. Is that because they see they can have more influence outside of politics & without being subjected to the rules/scrutiny as much?

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By *ohnnyTwoNotesMan
over a year ago

golden fields

"Back on the topic of why do rich people want to rule?

I guess people have different ideas how to gain money and power.

Musk was part of Trump's initial advisory team when he won the election. So maybe he had some political ambitions?

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By *irldnCouple
over a year ago

Brighton

I know this will sound a bit like conspiracy theory territory but the most pernicious thing in politics is not the politicians themselves (regardless of how rich they are) but the people behind them using their wealth to gain influence over policy without having to step into the limelight themselves. Even worse when the politician is compromised in some way and can be exploited.

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By *ustintime69Man
over a year ago

Bristol

"I know this will sound a bit like conspiracy theory territory but the most pernicious thing in politics is not the politicians themselves (regardless of how rich they are) but the people behind them using their wealth to gain influence over policy without having to step into the limelight themselves. Even worse when the politician is compromised in some way and can be exploited. "

Boris loved to party with Russki oligarchs and Trump’s golden showers with Putin are notorious but there’s no implication that either were compromised by it is there

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Rich people want to rule for the simple reason... The thrill of making vast sums of money to them can get a little boring.. Its just a fun thing for them to run a country and get a thrill/high from doing it.

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