Billionaires and Their Bunkers

Apparently New Zealand is a favorite spot for Silicon Valley billionaires and other masters of the universe to buy estates and turn them into end-of-the-world bunkers.  What could be better?  There is nice weather, isolation from the multitudes of lesser beings, and a convivial fraternity of superstars who can have a continuous TED talk with one another as they revel in the sheer joy of their common genius.

For the lesser super-wealthy, there are opportunities to purchase bunkers stateside in various remote locations.  The COVID-19 pandemic has made them all the rage.  After all, when it gets really bad, why sweat it out with the rest of humanity?  It’s a dog eat dog world and the meritocracy demands that the more accomplished human beings preserve themselves for the creation of a new society after the dust settles, right?

It is a sad truth that many people who have benefitted enormously in this world, whether by good fortune, skill or a combination of the two, are so unwilling to embrace their obligation to the rest of humanity.  There is something about a long intoxication in privilege, success and wealth that creates a narcissistic stupor.  Now that they have ascended to the penthouse, the plutocrats want to pull up the ladder and enjoy the view by themselves.

This is not a universal affliction.  There are exceptions who use their wealth and influence to benefit society and recognize the ‘there by the grace of God go I’ random nature of good fortune. But even the best of those kind souls end up living in a bubble of like-endowed potentates and lose their understanding or empathy to some great degree.

Still, my deepest disgust is reserved for those who actively prepare a protected haven from a future dystopia and spend millions that could otherwise be employed in helping the world avoid such a destiny.  They are to be pitied for their dearth of humanity and despised for their selfish foolishness.