2nd Generation Rich People

Ok - time to get this off my chest. A little American rebellion here.

There are few things in life that annoy me like pompous 2nd generation rich people. Pompous people in general annoy me, but 2nd generation pompous rich people take the cake.

I admit that 2nd generation rich people have to work harder at being normal than 1st generation rich folks – but when you combine lots of money with a person that inherited it, you usually end up with a pompous 2nd generation pompous rich person.

If I were publishing a newspaper I could get in trouble here- but since I’m pretty sure that no one reads this blog, let me name a few of these companies or enterprises with 2nd generation pompous rich people at the helm.

World’s Finest Chocolate
Ford
Frank Sinatra Jr.’s Orchestra
Al Gore
Kim Jong Il – aka. “The Pot Belly Pig” aka. "The Supreme Leader of starving his People"

I am right this minute listening to local radio station in Gaylord. Speaking now is a 2nd generation pompous rich person. And yes – I’m annoyed.

This particular 2nd generation pompous rich person is being heralded as a great cornerstone of our community who donates gobs of his deceased dad’s money. Whoopee! What noble act. Getting to spend his dad’s money.

He has inherited a utility company which shall go nameless. And these local utility stations charge a premium price for what it dispenses. At least $.10 more per gallon than any surrounding community, in fact. But I shall not divulge the type of utility to allow for proper anonymity. But will say that I have to pay $2.03 per gallon for the cheap stuff.

But he always claims to charge more because he is “giving back to the community”. How nice.

I am part of this community. Why isn’t he giving back to me?

But back to me general point. I have seen company after company get screwed up through 2nd generation wannabees.

On the other hand I greatly admire first generation business owners – they had to risk everything to build what they had. Second generation people have to sacrifice little if anything.

I admit, it is very hard for me to respect a 2nd generation rich person, but it can be done. There are several other people in this community that are 2nd generation and rich – but they handle themselves with modesty and dignity.

Actually, one of those dignified individuals is the brother of the pompous one I referred to before. Although he has all the toys and perks of being rich without working for it, he is humble and has what I believe to be a pure heart. He puts other people above himself and is a great man. Here are more that have done so nobly:

Natalie Cole
George W. Bush (he may be rich but he’s not arrogant)
Franklin Graham
Ryan Dobson

So lest I condemn all 2nd generation rich people to soon let me be the first to say I can be open minded here.

So if you are a 2nd generation rich person, please don’t be pompous because you didn’t earn a penny of what you have. Just be humble, quiet and smile a lot. And if you are terribly bored with all that money – I’ll take some.