"Furthermore, we have about 50% of the world's wealth but only 6.3% of its population"
"Furthermore, we have about 50% of the world's wealth but only 6.3% of its population. This disparity is particularly great as between ourselves and the peoples of Asia. In this situation, we cannot fail to be the object of envy and resentment. Our real task in the coming period is to devise a pattern of relationships which will permit us to maintain this position of disparity without positive detriment to our national security. To do so, we will have to dispense with all sentimentality and day-dreaming; and our attention will have to be concentrated everywhere on our immediate national objectives. We need not deceive ourselves that we can afford today the luxury of altruism and world-benefaction."
From a 1948 memo by John Kennan, highlighted by Chris Hedges in his excellent interview on TRNN, part 1 below and all parts here.
Do you think it's appropriate that, let's put it broadly, western governments and corporations use all of our economic and much of our military might to maintain that disparity, knowing that the wealth generated and protected is distributed very unequally in our own societies?
= new reply since forum marked as read
