Worlds richest 100 people could end world poverty four time
Quote:
The world's 100 richest people earned enough money last year to end world extreme poverty four times over, according to a new report released by international rights group and charity Oxfam.
The $240 billion net income of the world's 100 richest billionaires would have ended poverty four times over, according to the London-based group's report released on Saturday.
The group has called on world leaders to commit to reducing inequality to the levels it was at in 1990, and to curb income extremes on both sides of the spectrum.
The release of the report was timed to coincide with the holding of the World Economic Forum in Davos next week.
The group says that the world's richest one percent have seen their income increase by 60 percent in the last 20 years, with the latest world financial crisis only serving to hasten, rather than hinder, the process.
"We sometimes talk about the 'have-nots' and the 'haves' - well, we're talking about the 'have-lots'. [...] We're anti-poverty agency. We focus on poverty, we work with the poorest people around the world. You don't normally hear us talking about wealth. But it's gotten so out of control between rich and poor that one of the obstacles to solving extreme poverty is now extreme wealth," Ben Phillips, a campaign director at Oxfam, told Al Jazeera.
This is from 1998 too. Anyway, it's inevitable that one day the poor will rise up. I'm surprised that they haven't yet in the 1st world countries. We have every right to stand up to it but idk. We're to caught up in a consumerist mentality.
Think about how great it would be if every family in the world earned around 100,000. There would be no poverty and so many would be equal.
Then who would mass produce the Nike shoes and iPads you use? Who would come round your house three times a week to clean and cook for you comfort? Who would clean the bathrooms at the 5 star hotels you stay at?
If people want a comfortable lifestyle others will have to support that. There can't be rich without poor.
The gap between the rich and the poor in this world is grotesque. How humanity has allowed a system that enforces this inequality is just saddening.
Capitalism is such a bad system. The best thing for every country right now would be democracy with a mix between capitalism and communism. No dictators, no one earning hundreds of millions, no poverty, etc etc but that won't happen any time soon unfortunately.
Capitalism is such a bad system. The best thing for every country right now would be democracy with a mix between capitalism and communism. No dictators, no one earning hundreds of millions, no poverty, etc etc but that won't happen any time soon unfortunately.
You can't force democracy in every country. Having democracy is very complex and there has to be a history leading to it. Same with communism.
Have you read the Communist Manifesto? Even Marx said there has to be a history and certain things have to lead to that system to work. And it's way too idealistic so it will never happen.
If you've worked hard to earn your money then do whatever you like with it, but if you come from money, inherit money then I feel like you should have to donate something.
You can't force democracy in every country. Having democracy is very complex and there has to be a history leading to it. Same with communism.
Have you read the Communist Manifesto? Even Marx said there has to be a history and certain things have to lead to that system to work. And it's way too idealistic so it will never happen.
I haven't but I agree. It is what would be best but it won't happen, at least for a long time. Maybe when our society/civilization collapses people will learn.
Do you all honestly expect anyone to willingly give up all their "extra" earnings? What if the article asked everyone in the top 50% (which probably includes all of you) to donate anything and everything superfluous to survival? Would you do it? I suspect most (if not all) of you wouldn't.
Anyway, it's inevitable that one day the poor will rise up. I'm surprised that they haven't yet in the 1st world countries. We have every right to stand up to it but idk. We're to caught up in a consumerist mentality.
