These Are Hard Times - Unless You're Ultra-Rich

 


Seriously, do you ever give a moment's thought about the plight of the ultra-rich? Having all that money can grow burdensome. You can only stuff so many mattresses before you run out - of mattresses. It's a struggle.

Some of the money-burdened have figured out you can ease the suffering with a £50m floating fortress of solitude.

In part because of the coronavirus crisis, the superyacht industry is booming – and the number of vessels under construction or on order worldwide has hit a new record. According to figures revealed in the latest edition of Boat International’s Global Order Book, more than 1,200 superyachts are slated to be built – a rise of 25% on last year.

“The market’s never been busier,” said Will Christie, a superyacht broker. “And I’ve been in the industry 20 years. A lot of people say they appreciate the safety of being on a yacht during the pandemic. But it’s also because whereas in previous eras the people with enough money were too busy in the office to justify the purchase, these days they can work from anywhere.

“I had one client who sent his trading terminals by plane so he could use them onboard – he’d be kitesurfing in the afternoon and then go back to his desk.”

Naturally these Higher Purpose Persons attract the scorn of the nags and hags.

Critics of the boom in superyachts point to the vastly disproportionate environmental damage produced by the super-rich. “Whether it’s this or private jets or trips to space, they’re just sticking two fingers up at the rest of society,” said Peter Newell, a professor of international relations at Sussex University. “It’s decadent. They’re not comfortable with the constraints that come with accepting collective responsibility for the fate of the planet.”

Comments

  1. LorneDecember 13, 2021 at 9:29 AM

    I've always been a bit of an aficionado of post-apocalyptic films, Mound, and the scenario you describe here is sometimes explored. It never ends well for anyone. Hmm...could there a message here?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Disaffected LibDecember 13, 2021 at 4:22 PM

      I sometimes wonder, Lorne, what I will witness in my remaining years. The New York Times feature unveiled today, "Postcards from a world on fire," looks at the chaos that already exists around the world today. If you go through the summaries of the 193 countries listed you get a sense of those that are already on the edge of the abyss.

      Delete
  2. lungtaDecember 13, 2021 at 11:02 AM

    "The richest 10 percent accounted for over half (52 percent) of the emissions added to the atmosphere between 1990 and 2015. The richest one percent were responsible for 15 percent of emissions during this time – more than all the citizens of the EU and more than twice that of the poorest half of humanity (7 percent)."
    https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/carbon-emissions-richest-1-percent-more-double-emissions-poorest-half-humanity

    survival of the fittest....bank account?
    i think we are just that shallow.

    and the solution is keeping rich people from spending their money?

    i will stop them with my vote....no i will sign a petition...send an email...
    comment on a blog :) ...make a sign and walk around

    what part of grieving is acceptance?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Disaffected LibDecember 13, 2021 at 4:25 PM

      Acceptance is the very last stage of grieving, Lungta, but I'm sure you know that. It's that 'Jesus take the wheel' moment.

      Delete

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