In this article, Type Media Center fellow Rebecca Solnit discusses the disproportionate influence and impact that billionaires have on environmental issues, politics, and society in general.
Highlights
- Disparity in More Than Wealth: Solnit highlights the disparity that exists between the wealthiest individuals and the rest of the population. She emphasizes that, while billionaires are a small percentage of the population, they have significantly more power, and impact the environment far more, than the the majority of humanity.
- Environmental Impact of the Ultra-Rich: In the article, Solnit discusses how billionaires’ lifestyles and actions contribute significantly to climate change, with excessive consumption, large influence on policy, and monetary support of harmful industries like fossil fuels.
- Undermining of Democracy: The article delves into how billionaires’ disproportionate influence on politics undermines the basic structure of democracy, allowing them to mold policy in a way that protects their interests and preserves their economic status.
- Giants Among Humans: Solnit raises the idea that the mere existence of billionaires is so hazardous to society and the environment that their wealth must be reduced to diminish their impact. She compares them to “giants trampling underfoot both nature and our efforts to protect it.”
Type Media Center’s Note
This article by our fellow Rebecca Solnit reflects Type Media Center’s dedication to nurturing independent journalism that not only informs but strives for societal change.