Jim Hightower's Lowdown

Jeff Bezos Goes to Sea


Listen Later

It’s been an all-time record year of runaway wealth for America’s billionaires, with this tiny clique vastly widening the chasm separating them from us hoi polloi. For example, Amazon jefe Jeff Bezos hauled in $190 billion for the year. That pays him more than $360,000 a minute, for every single minute of the year.
So much taken by so few who do so little while harming so many.
Bezos erected his corporate empire on the backs of non-union workers he routinely exploits, plus millions of taxpayers he bilks. Indeed, his recent surge of wealth comes not from innovation or hard work, but from the windfall of bloated Wall Street stock prices, making him richer without lifting a finger.
Yet media and politicians hail Jeff as a Big Thinking Genius! Seriously? This self-centered ego’s top achievement this year was to have the world’s largest superyacht built for him – a 400 foot-long, sea going palace. But – oops! – Jeff’s pleasure craft can’t get to the ocean, because it’s too tall to go under a bridge just downriver from the Dutch city where he’s having it built. No problem for a billionaire “genius,” though – Boss Bezos simply instructed local officials to dismantle their historic bridge so his toy could pass through. But, no go, for outraged locals learned of his imperious scheme and quickly organized a massive rotten-egg brigade, pledging to pelt the colossal yacht (and possibly Jeff). Very bad political optics. So, the American mogul’s billions were not allowed to buy his way out.
It’s still unclear how he’ll get it out to sea. But one Dutch wag helpfully pointed out to him: “You can still take your giant boat out for short trips down to the bridge and back.” If these mega-rich privileged ones are so smart, why are they so stupid?
...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Jim Hightower's LowdownBy Jim Hightower

  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8
  • 4.8

4.8

334 ratings


More shows like Jim Hightower's Lowdown

View all
On the Media by WNYC Studios

On the Media

9,070 Listeners

CounterSpin by Fairness & Accuracy In Reporting

CounterSpin

494 Listeners

Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy by BestOfTheLeft.com

Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy

3,358 Listeners

Ring of Fire Radio with Farron Cousins by Audio Matters LLC

Ring of Fire Radio with Farron Cousins

478 Listeners

Ralph Nader Radio Hour by Ralph Nader

Ralph Nader Radio Hour

1,173 Listeners

The Nation Podcasts by The Nation Magazine

The Nation Podcasts

395 Listeners

The DSR Network by The DSR Network

The DSR Network

1,729 Listeners

The Hartmann Report by Thom Hartmann

The Hartmann Report

1,354 Listeners

The Atlantic Interview by The Atlantic

The Atlantic Interview

1,744 Listeners

Gaslit Nation by Andrea Chalupa

Gaslit Nation

3,950 Listeners

The Al Franken Podcast by ASF Productions

The Al Franken Podcast

8,686 Listeners

Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast by WNYC Studios

Brian Lehrer: A Daily Politics Podcast

677 Listeners

The PoliticsGirl Podcast by Meidas Media Network, Leigh McGowan

The PoliticsGirl Podcast

4,124 Listeners

Letters from an American by Heather Cox Richardson

Letters from an American

4,985 Listeners