Why Some Intelligent Entrepreneurs Seem Clueless

In recent years, there have been a slew of self made billionaires who have succeeded overwhelmingly under our capitalist system. Yet, these people have no clue about how our system works and how they personally benefited. Instead, they want to appear caring and humane and a champion for social justice. They seem detached from reality.

- May 2017

I am referring to people like Mark Zuckerberg, Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Jeff Bezos, Sheryl Sandberg...They have build a successful empire under our capitalistic system. They have used the tools and our laws to become rich and famous. They are lauded with awards and honorary degrees by our major institutions of higher learning. They are the cream of the crop.

Instead of praising our system compared to all others, they decide to criticize and seem to want to replace what we have with something better? Why?

It may be just a simple case of "do as I say, not as I do" syndrome. I do believe they mean well. Some have donated a large part of their personal wealth trying to make things better. I applaud them for that. However, I don't understand why they want to tear down a system that has worked better than any other system invented by man. I don't claim capitalism is perfect. However, it is the best we have so far.

Another strange effect is why some of our Ivy League schools turn out such progressive, socialistic ideals embodied by these graduates. Don't they know their history? Students work hard all their career to be accepted by these institutions which charges $60K per year in tuition and then be taught that our system is unfair and must be replaced with a more equal economic system like socialism. Where has any of these other countries come close to our achievements? Where is the proof?

Finally, the irony of people who believes in big government programs to solve our social and economic ills. Don't they see the corruption and inefficiencies of these very institutions? Why would you want more of the same?

Perhaps when things come easy for one person, they assume it applies to all human race. They have won the lottery and just want to share it with the rest of us. Instead of giving it away, they decided it is better to rob Peter to pay Paul. When Mark Zuckerberg said we needed a new social contract in his commencement speech at Harvard, I was taken aback. A drop out from Harvard who created a successful business, a modern a Horatio Alger, is telling us we need to give everyone a free ride. With all due respect to Mark Zuckerberg, you need to go back to school and learn the basics of economics 101 and American Civics 101 before doling out advice.