I read a study published by a university -- can't remember which one -- about a year ago that did some serious number crunching to demonstrate that if every person on earth consumed resources at the same rate as the average American consumer, we would need 6 (or 7? -- can't remember) planet earths to provide all the materials necessary.
I hate the wealth inequality as much as anybody, mostly because I hate the wealthy people who buy the politicians. They corrupt everything with their wealth.
But on the "up" side, putting all of that money into the hands of just a few does cut way down on consumption in America -- just saying. If each American had an extra $5000 to spend each year, for example, how many of us would invest that in clean energy production and research, and how many of us would go out and buy a new car, new clothes, new whatever -- or party at the sushi restaurant a couple of extra times per month.
I realize it is delusional on my part to suspect that secretive and hidden powers in the world are manipulating the world economy to take the money -- and consumption -- out of the hands of the 90% or so and put it in the hands of the already super-wealthy who simply invest it. But the part of me that wants to believe there is some kind of method behind the madness often makes me wonder.
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