Id like to say something that most people seem to ignore: rich people do not make poor people poor. This unequal distribution of wealth (side note: that sounds eerily communistic) is not a by-product of corruption and evil; it is the byproduct of a free market system in which individual merit dictates outcomes. A few individuals are naturally going to unbelievably outperform practically everyone else. Some people get their money unjustly, yes, but they comprise a very small minority. The vast majority of wealthy people make their money by adding value to society through job creation, services/goods provided, etc. It is their value-adding that boosts our economy and subsequently causes everyone to profit, hence why even Americas poorest are still wealthy from a global perspective (roughly 50% of the worlds population lives on less than $3-4 a day [businessweek/articles/2013-04-28/why-ending-extreme-poverty-isnt-good-enough], whereas the average American lives on about 8.3 times that [money.howstuffworks/personal-finance/budgeting/how-much-money-to-live1.htm]). People have this misguided notion that there is a finite mount of money in this world, when there just isnt. So when you see that the vilified 1% own 40% of the countrys wealth, or whatever it is, that doesnt mean that theyre keeping any money whatsoever from the other 99%; it merely means they created more wealth, and anyone can create wealth—that is limited only by our own capacities. Bill Gates having $76 billion does not keep anyone from making more money. Now, should the 1% give back more? I personally think they should (though please note that they already give almost unfathomably more than you or I ever will, and often at a greater percentage). But the last time I checked, the 99%—of which I am a part—doesnt like being told what to do with their money, so whats with the double standard? It sure seemed like everyone hated those things. Im tired of the rich being indiscriminately labeled villains. So much of all this seems to stem from nothing more than bitterness, resentment, and, for some, envy. Its easy to jump on the bandwagon of blame the 1%, but sitting around blaming people isnt going to improve your economic condition, either. We can and should make moral appeals—though a lot of that seems to be characterized by hypocrisy—but we need to stop making the argument that the poor are poor because of the rich. Yes, the rich are in an incredibly more fortune situation than practically everyone else, but that does not mean they forfeit their right to not be libeled and slandered. Our democratic free market system thrives, at least in significant part, because of those people. How about instead of the incessant vilification we work to create a more just world? I also want for there to be no hunger, hurt, or sickness, but that does not come by way of finger-pointing. What we need to do it figure out how to empower the less fortunate to better their lives (not just perpetually give out things, though that is necessary to an extent [give a man a fish, he eats for a day; teach a man how to fish, he eats for the rest of his life]). We need to create a standard of living by which everyone has enough food, water, and health care, yes; but we need to do that by raising the poor up, not bringing the rich down. We cant create justice through unjust means. Martin Luther King Jr., one of historys greatest social activists keenly noted that, Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Hes preaching against exactly what so many economic activists are doing. I want to not see people hurting just as badly as the next person, but hatred of each other is never going to accomplish that. Hatred has only widened the chasm of understanding. It isnt working. Albert Einstein said something to the effect that insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. How about instead of blaming and hating each other, we more seek to understand and love one another? Hatred and inequality will continue to thrive so long as we continue to perpetuate it in our words and actions. *Note: Some of this will not be perfect, I know. Please do not let that detract from the obvious overarching message.
Posted on: Sun, 04 Jan 2015 04:34:39 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015