I always loved that episode because of how it made the concept of money and obscene wealth as a completely foreign and forgotten backward concept in the 24th century.
Also, I never noticed before until I posted the meme image … that the rich old white guy gets to be carried away by two black security officers.
In universe, it would have been a double slap in the face to lose all his money and realize that society no longer sees colour, race and identity as a barrier any more.
But obviously that will be rescinded at some point because:
[on the two fighters tracking Red Dwarf]
Holly: They’re from Earth.
Lister: That’s 3 million years away.
Holly: They’re from the Norweb Federation.
Lister: What’s that?
Holly: The North Western Electricity Board. They want you, Dave.
Lister: Me? Why? What for?
Holly: For your crimes against humanity.
Lister: You what?
Holly: It seems when you left Earth, 3 million years ago, you left two half-eaten German sausages on a plate in your kitchen. Do you know what happens to sausages left unattended for 3 million years?
Lister: Yeah, they go mouldy.
Holly: Your sausages, Dave, now cover seven-eights of the Earth’s surface. Also, you left £17.50 in your bank account. Thanks to compound interest, you now own 98% of all the world’s wealth. And because you’ve hoarded it for 3 million years, nobody’s got any money except for you and Norweb.
Lister: Why Norweb?
Holly: You left a light on in the bathroom. I’ve got a final demand here for £180 billion.
The interest is payment for incentive to keep that money in inventory for the bank’s use. As long as there is someone actively in control of the account, like his lawyers, then they’d love to have a static amount (plus the added interest) to invest elsewhere.
I always loved that episode because of how it made the concept of money and obscene wealth as a completely foreign and forgotten backward concept in the 24th century.
Same. Really hammered home just how stupid it all is.
Also, I never noticed before until I posted the meme image … that the rich old white guy gets to be carried away by two black security officers.
In universe, it would have been a double slap in the face to lose all his money and realize that society no longer sees colour, race and identity as a barrier any more.
I’m no genius in finance but would the banks let the money sit there and accrued interest for that long?
If it was held in an actively managed trust, sure.
More realistically he would be declared dead and any trusts would be liquidated after the last heir died.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_against_perpetuities
But obviously that will be rescinded at some point because:
The interest is payment for incentive to keep that money in inventory for the bank’s use. As long as there is someone actively in control of the account, like his lawyers, then they’d love to have a static amount (plus the added interest) to invest elsewhere.
Maybe? It would be unwise for banks to start deciding what accounts still get interest and others don’t. Would spook investors.