The issue is that they aren't as smart as they think they are. They've created a more dangerous world for themselves and their children, and while they'll still be at the top, their position is far less stable. They're still trapped on this planet with us, and are still vulnerable to the apocalyptic problems they've caused.

[–] rhadamanth_nemes@lemmy.world 1 points 6 months ago

Not a great response but... Basically they are gambling they'll be dead before the bill comes due.

It helps that human made environmental changes are novel, meaning that while we have histories of other disasters befalling our planet, we haven't seen this particular one before. And since our enemy is the super rich who control much of the media output, they can cast enough doubt over everything to get away with it for long enough for them to die off.

[–] gimsy@feddit.it 1 points 6 months ago

That's wishful thinking, in world history there's always been who is on top, and in general the conditions of people are far better than in the past, thanks to (or despite of) capitalism

Wealth redistribution is sign of a mature society as well as punishing who abuses societal rules for private gains

Some societies are, in many ways, more mature than others, and western society aren't much better that eastern ones, despite what we like to think, they just value different things, including status symbols, and being better off than the average, when this is left unchecked... It causes problems, to the point where it is not possible any more to control it

And here we are