In which we continue our discussion with Mother Jones Senior Editor & author Michael Mechanic. Mechanic wrote the book JackPot: How the Super Rich Really Live and How Their Wealth Harms Us All. He interviewed many exceedingly wealthy people to get at how they really think, how they live and if they are actually happy. This interview covers their fears about a real, populist uprising; some who have chosen to give away their wealth and how the IRS has been crippled for years from being able to go after wealthy tax evaders.
In the wake of the shooting of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson, allegedly by 26-year-old Luigi Mangione–someone who has spoken about corporate greed and the failure of US health care systems to extend longevity—the specter of an increasingly disgruntled and angry U.S. populace rising up against the wealthy has dominated the news and social media. This episode is a deep dive into how very wealthy executives live and think, and how the deck is stacked for them.
Ami Chen Mills interviews her former colleague, Michael Mechanic, formerly a staff writer and editor at MetroSanta Cruz. This book covers the growing income gap in the United States, and how wealth actually affects the wealthy and the nation as a whole, as well as people of color, women and all the rest of us … and what we can do about it.
Notes and Resources:
This episode was first recorded in 2021 when Ami was a host for the “Unheard Voices” radio show. MOT is re-releasing this as a new podcast and show due to the its tremendous relevance as a gaggle of millionaires and billionaires who seek to make even more money advance upon the White House, and are set to take power, along with their champion, Donald J. Trump, in January of 2025.
