Can We Actually Eat the Rich?

elvicheva

Join the conversation in the comments below, and let me know what you think: is it time to “eat the rich”? 🍴  Timestamps:  0:00 Intro – Can we really eat the rich? 0:27 Part 1 - History of "Eating the Rich" 2:19 Part 2 - Why Do We Want to Eat the Rich? 5:28 Part 3 - So...Can We Actually Eat Them? 8:35 Part 4 - Real Solutions to "Eating the Rich" 15:29 Part 5 - Real-World Implications of Taxing (Not Eating) the Rich 17:59 Outro  Useful sources related to the topic: https://taxjustice.net/wp-content/upl...  https://taxfoundation.org/research/al... https://www.oxfam.de/system/files/doc...  https://wir2022.wid.world/chapter-2/ https://ourworldindata.org/economic-i... https://ourworldindata.org/inequality...  Oxfam petition: https://makerichpolluterspay.org/  Sources can be found throughout the video. Video effects and some of the visual content was created in Canva and edited on Davinci Resolve. Music by Valentin Iakovlev from Pixabay.  Enquiries: acrosstheglobewithelvi@gmail.com  #EatTheRich, #WealthInequality, #ClassDivide, #LateStageCapitalism, #AntiCapitalism, #CapitalismExposed, #EconomicJustice, #1Percent, #BillionaireCulture, #WealthVsPoverty, #RichVsPoor, #TaxTheRich, #EatTheRichMeme, #GenZAgainstTheRich, #MillennialsVsMillionaires, #WealthTok, #LateStageMemes, #HousingCrisis, #StudentDebtCrisis, #LivingWageNow, #FinancialTransparency, #EconomicPrivilege, #ForYouPage, #Trending

Transcript

00:00Can we actually eat the rich? It's a strange question, but one that keeps coming up,

00:05centuries after it first surfaced. The phrase eat the rich has gone from a revolutionary slogan to

00:11a TikTok trend, from political protest signs to, well, the subject of this video. So where did this

00:18idea even come from and why are we all so fascinated by it? And if we could actually

00:23eat the rich, would it do us any good?

00:30Our story begins in 18th century France. Back then, philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau coined

00:36the ideas about the inequality between the ruling class and the common people. Rousseau's philosophy

00:41was the following. He saw the wealthy as beasts of prey, living off the labor and lives of the

00:47vulnerable. He wrote in Émile, the animals you eat are not those who devour others. You only hunger

00:55for the sweet and gentle creatures who harm no one. The aristocracy were the predators,

01:01consuming everything in their path, and the French Revolution would soon put his ideas to the test.

01:08When the people finally stormed the Bastille and dethroned King Louis XVI, Rousseau's ideas were

01:14everywhere. And although they didn't actually eat the rich, they devoured the aristocracy's wealth and

01:20power by redistributing land and resources. This redistribution was a clear for-the-people-by-the-people

01:27moment, and wealth inequality went down temporarily. But as we know, old habits die hard, and wealth has

01:35found its way back into the hands of a few since then. Today's eat the rich isn't just a cry from the

01:41history. It's trending again. From TikTok videos criticizing private jets to political campaigns,

01:48it's resurfaced as a reaction to extreme wealth inequality. For example, the supporters of Elizabeth

01:55Warren chanted the phrase at rallies to support her wealth tax proposal. While in South Africa,

02:01the Lend Party used it as their slogan for the 2021 elections, rallying against the unchecked capitalism.

02:08So social media, pop culture, the film industry have all amplified the sentiment, making it a global

02:14phenomenon. So why is there this renewed appetite for eating the rich, at least metaphorically? Well,

02:25it's no secret that the gap between the rich and everyone else has grown wider than ever. Millennials

02:30and Gen Z, despite being the most educated generations, face unprecedented levels of debt, housing costs,

02:36and income inequality. Meanwhile, CEOs today make about 400 times what the average worker does.

02:44This disparity keeps feeding the growing frustration. And beyond money, there's a psychological gap.

02:50Pop culture often puts wealth on a pedestal, showing events like the Mad Gala and celebrity

02:56vacations, while the world deals with wars, climate change, and food insecurity. Shows like

03:02salt burn, parasite, the white lotus, tap into this unease. They critique wealth, yet provide escapism,

03:09which can feel both cathartic and unsettling. Meanwhile, on social media, memes mock celebrities

03:16like Taylor Swift, Kylie Jenner, Elon Musk, or Jeff Bezos for using private jets. According to Oxfam,

03:23the world's wealthiest 10% accounts for 50% of emissions, while the poorest half of the world's

03:29population contributes only about 10%. These contrasts fuel the movement, because it's not just about money,

03:36it's primarily about justice. And it goes beyond that. It's also about how countries, governments,

03:42and those in power often fail to protect the very people that they claim to serve,

03:46often protecting more their own interests.

03:49And this betrayal can feel deeply personal, especially when the national rhetoric frames

03:54the state as a protective figure or motherland. In Colombia, for example, musicians Edson Belandia

04:01and Adriana Liscano explore this theme in their song Su Madre Patria, about which I found out through

04:07a friend of mine.

04:18In Su Madre Patria, Belandia and Liscano critique the concept of the motherland, or

04:23madre patria, which is often romanticized as something nurturing and protective, and

04:28it's often used in former Spanish colonies to refer to Spain. But here they subvert this notion,

04:34the motherland is something that gives life, but also takes it away. It's a source of exploitation

04:39and violence, as much as patriotism. Through this unsettling imagery and satirical lyrics,

04:45they question the sacrifices that poor and marginalized citizens make under the guise of

04:50patriotism, while those in power enjoy the benefits. And this isn't unique to Colombia. Across the world,

04:56loyalty to the motherland often benefits a privileged few while extracting the lives and labor of the

05:02money. Belandia and Liscano's work highlights how when patriotism becomes a tool to uphold systems of

05:10inequality and exploitation, this can lead to huge resentment. And it's the same frustration that fills

05:17today's call to eat the rich. It's a demand for accountability from systems and people who benefit,

05:23while the rest bear the cost. So, can we actually eat the rich? Well, cannibalism as a survival tactic

05:37isn't unheard of, and in some indigenous cultures, like the to-be-people of Brazil, it was even ritualized

05:43as a form of defiance. But let's be real, actually eating the rich might pose some serious health issues.

05:50For example, eating human brains could lead to kuru, which is known as the laughing sickness.

05:55So, if you're planning a billionaire buffet, it might seriously cause some digestive issues.

06:01But sure, the Tupi practiced ceremonial cannibalism, which carried deep cultural significance. But

06:08beyond the literal, it's the metaphorical use of cannibalism that makes this even more interesting.

06:15In the 1920s, Brazilian modernist Oswald de Andrade took inspiration from the Tupi's cannibalistic

06:22rituals and turned them into a metaphor for Brazil's relationship with foreign cultural influences,

06:29especially through the prism of colonialism. In his Cannibalist Manifesto, Andrade suggested that

06:36Brazil could metaphorically devour foreign ideas, taken in European, especially Portuguese, and Western

06:43influences, but transforming them into something uniquely Brazilian. And this process, which he

06:48called cultural cannibalism, was a way for Brazil to assert its own identity rather than simply mimicking

06:55the West. And more than just a cultural metaphor, Andrade's Manifesto was a direct rebellion against

07:02colonialism and European cultural dominance. By invoking the Tupi and their cannibalistic practices,

07:09Andrade rejected the idea that Brazilian culture should be subservient to European standards. He

07:15called for Brazil to devour these outside influences, to assert its independence, and to forge an authentic

07:23identity that embraced indigenous, African, and other influences unique to Brazil. In this sense, the

07:30metaphor of cannibalism becomes a powerful tool of resistance. Instead of being a symbol of savagery,

07:38it's about empowerment, embracing what colonial powers saw as primitive and turning it into a source of

07:46strength for the common people. Andrade was asking, why be ashamed of what the colonizers called savage?

07:54Why not just devour it and in doing so make it our own? So what does this mean for the modern discussion

08:01of eating the rich? Cannibalism, both literally and metaphorically, is often linked to rebellion,

08:08whether against colonizers or the ultra-wealthy. In today's context, eating the rich can be seen as a

08:15form of defiance against those who hoard power and resources at the expense of the money. But as with

08:22Andrade's metaphor, it's not about literal consumption. It's about reclaiming what has been taken

08:28and transforming it into something new and better.

08:36Instead of cannibalism, maybe it's time for more practical solutions. Many economists argue that taxes

08:43on the ultra-wealthy could be the answer since they would help to fund public infrastructure, combat climate

08:49change, and reduce inequality. But how would that actually look? Let's explore some of the real-world

08:55attempts to tax the rich, both successes and setbacks. Many countries have explored wealth taxes, aiming

09:02to balance extreme inequality. Progressive wealth taxes, taxing the richest individuals on their net

09:10assets, are designed to ensure the wealthy pay their fair share. Yet wealth taxes have seen mixed results.

09:17Some countries like Switzerland and Spain have maintained to sustain them, while others like France,

09:23Germany and Sweden have repealed them. Let's see why. Switzerland offers a successful model for wealth

09:29taxation. Its wealth tax, which has been in place for over a century, accounts for around 4% of the total

09:36tax revenue, largely because it's tailored regionally and it has varying thresholds and rates. This

09:43flexibility helps reduce the risk of wealthy individuals fleeing the country or hiding assets abroad.

09:49In Spain, the 2022 solidarity wealth tax was designed to target the richest 0.5%, with rates between 1.7%

09:58and 3.5%, generating crucial revenue for public services and climate initiatives. The tax justice

10:06network estimates that if similar models were applied globally, they could rise $2 trillion annually,

10:14enough to double the funds required for climate action in developing countries. In the US, Senators

10:20Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders have proposed a wealth tax on the super-rich. Warren's plan, for

10:27example, would tax fortunes over $50 million at 2% and those over $1 billion at 3%, potentially raising

10:35trillions of dollars to fund social programs such as healthcare, education and infrastructure. However,

10:41this proposal has faced intense opposition from both the wealthy elite and lawmakers and

10:47lobbyists and critics argue that it could harm investment, hinder economic growth or drive the

10:53rich to exploit loopholes to avoid paying. Despite their potential, many countries have abandoned wealth

10:59taxes due to several challenges or lobbyists doing their job. The Tax Foundation points out that these

11:06taxes often raise little revenue compared to their high administrative costs. And in countries like

11:12France and Sweden, wealth taxes were found to discourage investment, cause capital flight and be

11:19administratively burdensome. In Norway, for example, a slight increase in wealth taxes led to an outflow of

11:26wealthy individuals and their money. And in Spain, the government faced similar challenges when it

11:32introduced a wealth tax, prompting many high net worth individuals to move their assets to neighboring

11:39countries like Portugal. Moreover, wealth taxes often result in double taxation. The wealthy already pay taxes

11:46on their income and investment, and a wealth tax further burdens their capital, potentially eroding their

11:54net wealth over time. Latin America, Africa and Asia also provide key examples of wealth tax debates. In Latin

12:01America, countries like Argentina have attempted wealth taxes during crisis. In 2020, for example,

12:08Argentina implemented a one-time millionaire's tax to raise funds for its COVID-19 relief efforts,

12:14and it targeted individuals with assets over 2.4 million dollars. This actually raised significant

12:20revenue, but also sparked controversy about its fairness and sustainability and, of course, a lot of

12:26resistance from the wealthy. South Africa has also explored wealth taxes as a means to address its deep

12:33economic inequalities, with some arguing that it could help fund social programs in a country where the

12:38wealthiest one percent owns 55 percent of the country's wealth. However, political resistance and

12:45concerns about capital flight have so far prevented its full implementation. In Asia, India has debated wealth

12:53taxes as well, though it has repealed its own in 2015, citing inefficiency and high administrative costs.

13:01However, the extreme concentration of wealth in India's top one percent has renewed calls for

13:08progressive wealth taxation. Despite the challenges, wealth taxes can work if implemented thoughtfully.

13:14The Tax Justice Network advocates for moderate progressive tax on the wealthiest 0.5 percent,

13:21with no exceptions for asset classes. And the key to success is ensuring that wealth above a high

13:29threshold is taxed without affecting the middle class. And, of course, full transparency of ownership

13:35is critical to prevent tax evasion. To avoid tax avoidance, countries must adopt beneficial ownership

13:42transparency, allowing governments to track assets and close loopholes that the ultra-wealthy use to hide

13:49their fortunes. And a coordinated global approach, such as a global asset register, could be vital to

13:56the success of this Texas. Radga Bregman captured very well this idea at Davos not long ago.

14:03This is my first time at Davos, and I find it quite a bewildering experience, to be honest.

14:09I mean, 1,500 private jets have flown in here to hear Sir David Attenborough speak about, you know,

14:15how we're wrecking the planet. And, I mean, I hear people talk in the language of participation and

14:20justice and equality and transparency. But then, I mean, almost no one raises the real issue of tax

14:25avoidance, right? And of the rich just not paying their fair share. I mean, it feels like I'm at a

14:30firefighters' conference and no one's allowed to speak about water. I mean, this is not rocket science.

14:36I mean, we can talk for a very long time about all these stupid philanthropy schemes. We can invite Bono once

14:40more. Come on, we gotta be talking about taxes. That's it. Taxes, taxes, taxes. All the rest is

14:46bullshit, in my opinion. The Tax Justice Network estimates that progressive wealth taxes could

14:52raise two trillion dollars globally, which would be enough to both fund climate initiatives and vital

14:58public services. But without political will and global cooperation, these taxes remain elusive.

15:04So why aren't more countries implementing wealth taxes? The wealthy hold immense political and

15:11economic power, and the fear of capital flight often outweighs the potential benefits. But with the

15:17right design, wealth taxes could help solve some of our most pressing challenges – inequality,

15:23climate change, and underfunded public services.

15:26So what would happen if we succeeded in taxing the rich at higher costs? Well, several potential

15:38benefits and challenges could come into play. First of all, climate action. With sufficient funding

15:44from wealth taxes, governments couldn't invest in renewable energy and infrastructure to address climate

15:50change. Imagine the world's wealthiest paying for clean energy, reforestation,

15:55and climate resilience projects. Secondly, wealth redistribution. More tax revenue means better

16:01public infrastructure, affordable education, and widely accessible healthcare. Redistribution has been

16:09shown to reduce poverty rates and improve economic mobility. Finally, better workers' rights and benefits.

16:16Higher tax revenue could support stronger worker protection, fair wages, and more accessible healthcare,

16:23improving overall quality of life for the majority of the population. However, it could pose such

16:28challenges as capital flight, lobbying and evasion, as well as effect on economic innovation.

16:36So while literally eating the rich may be out of the question, taxing them more fairly could yield a

16:41world where resources are shared more equitably. But achieving that requires political will and,

16:47ideally, global cooperation. And until then, maybe we'll keep saying eat the rich,

16:54if only to remind ourselves of just how hungry we are for justice.

16:58And you may ask what it means on a more individual level. Well, it means voting for candidates that

17:05propose wealth taxation, advocating for stronger tax reforms, demanding accountability from the ultra-wealthy,

17:12participating in boycotts against them or their companies, confronting politicians face to face on these topics,

17:20or simply raising these questions among family and friends to inspire them to incorporate this thinking in their voting in the future.

17:29Wealth taxes won't happen without public pressure. And the next time you hear the phrase,

17:36if the rich, remember, it's not just a rallying cry, it's a call for action.

17:42Well, that's it for today. Thank you so much for watching this video. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.

17:49What do you think about wealth taxes? And how do you think we can push for a more fair economic system?

17:55And yeah, thank you so much and see you in the next video.

18:06Thank you so much for watching this video.

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