[imagesource:here]

Apparently, petitions are the new open letters.

I’m alright with that – the sooner we see the back of all that ‘an open letter to’ nonsense the better.

In case you haven’t been keeping up to speed with the whims of the world’s richest people, Jeff Bezos plans on heading into space on July 20, aboard Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket.

That would make him the winner of the billionaire space race, unless Richard Branson pips him to the post with a last-gasp effort.

The costs associated with all of this are astronomical, and of course, there’s backlash.

One petition argues that Bezos should focus on buying the Mona Lisa and eating it, whilst another proposes that the world’s richest person remains in space permanently.

Titled ‘Do not allow Jeff Bezos to return to Earth’, the Change.org petition has (at the time of writing) around 100 000 signatures.

Started by Ric G, the reason is simple:

Billionaire’s [sic] should not exist…on earth, or in space, but should they decide the latter they should stay there.

One signee said that “being let back into Earth is a privilege – not a right.”

Another petition, which has in excess of 20 000 signatures, goes even further in its criticism:

Jeff Bezos is actually Lex Luthor, disguised as the supposed owner of a super successful online retail store. However, he’s actually an evil overlord hellbent on global domination.

We’ve known this for years. Jeff has worked with the Epsteins and the Knights Templar, as well as the Free Masons to gain control over the whole world.

He’s also in bed with the flat earth deniers; it’s the only way they’ll allow him to leave the atmosphere. Meanwhile our government stands by and lets it happen.

This may be our last chance before they enable the 5G microchips and perform a mass takeover.

I believe (or perhaps sincerely hope) that petition is taking the piss.

You might argue that it’s Bezos’ money, and he can do with as he pleases.

Others would say something along these lines:

There’s no such thing as a self-made billionaire

Show me a billionaire and I’ll show you:
A) A system they exploited
B) Thousands of employees doing the real work
C) Vast amounts of inherited money
D) All of the above

— Dan Price (@DanPriceSeattle) June 22, 2021

When you obtain such obscene amounts of wealth ($201,5 billion, according to Forbes), you’re always going to be placed under the microscope.

This via The Guardian:

Bezos has long been criticized for being stingy with his wealth. In January, the political analyst Earl Ofari Hutchinson wrote that while Donald Trump had given away more than 3% of his wealth, Bezos had given away less than 1%. Bezos’s ex-wife, MacKenzie Scott, has given away billions.

Bezos has also been condemned over stagnant wages and for discouraging Amazon workers from unionizing.

During a recent video posted on Instagram, Bezos said that seeing Earth from space “changes you [and] changes your relationship with this planet, with humanity. It’s one Earth.”

Perhaps his space jaunt next month will lead to increased philanthropic efforts, or treating Amazon workers better.

At the very least, maybe he could pay his fair share of taxes.

[sources:change&guardian]