We call them assumptions, theories, even truisms.

They are lies. Simple lies.

Long ago, Kings refused to let ships sail far away. Because the world was flat. The ships would fall off the edge. Scary.

There are many lies going around today. Part of the problem is that smart people don’t call them out as lies. Here’s one example.

BIG LIE ALERT: “Rich people deserve to be rich.” This can be restated as, “Billionaires are good for the economy.”

Sure about that? I know it’s a lie.

Billionaires exist because society exists. They exist only because most people live and work together in harmony. As a society, we share most of our resources. No one is hiding or keeping resources from each other. And of those resources we share, we respect and protect.

Not true with Billionaires. They have collected, protected, and directed their vast resources to one thing. Making themselves richer.

They take advantage of our society. They enjoy the same public benefits as everyone; air, land, protection, laws. And they take advantage of these things. In every case, they use a loophole in society. These loopholes let them to grow more powerful than anyone else. Here’s a few.

Loophole 1: Inheriting wealth. Loophole 2: Legal technicality allowing them to charge more money than the work they provide. Loophole 3: Buying their way through the justice system. Loophole 4: Buying politicians. Loophole 5: Crushing competition, “legally.” Loophole 6: Consuming public resources without compensating the public. Like when they pollute our environment.

Are billionaires good for the economy? No. In no way are they ever good.

Yet economists never come out and state this simple fact. Why is that?

Because economists rely on billionaires for their jobs.

We must recognize the lies used to control our lives. Otherwise, we will not live to win the fight.