Gary Stevenson grew up poor, got rich in the City – then found himself wrestling with depression. Now he says he’s the only person on the left who really understands the British economy – and the people who wield the power
“The rich have got a choice,” he says. “They can lend the money to the government or they can buy the assets. I know what I’m doing.”
“OK, what’s that?” I ask, trepidatiously, knowing the answer.
“I’m buying the assets. Stocks, gold, commodities, property, everything. The rich have got a lot of money, they can buy everything. The government has got to compete with that. They can’t. They’re trying to play chess with no pieces.”
This doesn’t sound like the activity of a leftist. But it’s an interesting question, to what extent you can play the capitalist game while still claiming to be a leftist? When are you undermining from within and when have you just gone over to the other side, no matter how you conceive of yourself?
Philanthropy. How many millionaire CEOs declared their past actions unbecoming and vowed to donate their fortunes to charity and pursue a different career path after Luigi did his deed? None. Not a single one.
If you take and take and take it doesn’t matter who it’s from. If you take so you can give then worst case you are at least putting money back into an economy. Best case is you are helping people.
This doesn’t sound like the activity of a leftist. But it’s an interesting question, to what extent you can play the capitalist game while still claiming to be a leftist? When are you undermining from within and when have you just gone over to the other side, no matter how you conceive of yourself?
Philanthropy. How many millionaire CEOs declared their past actions unbecoming and vowed to donate their fortunes to charity and pursue a different career path after Luigi did his deed? None. Not a single one.
If you take and take and take it doesn’t matter who it’s from. If you take so you can give then worst case you are at least putting money back into an economy. Best case is you are helping people.