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Could wealth inequality be the biggest problem for civilization? (Original Post) davidn3600 Jan 2014 OP
Always has been. elleng Jan 2014 #1
Yes but has the gap between the poor and super rich ever been this large? davidn3600 Jan 2014 #2
Yes, many, many times aristocles Jan 2014 #4
Yes, thanks. elleng Jan 2014 #5
+1 … it's been the way of civilization Auggie Jan 2014 #8
Beat me to it. nt kelliekat44 Jan 2014 #7
Since you've used the expression "civilization" dipsydoodle Jan 2014 #3
Why assume that? Coyotl Jan 2014 #6
Oxfam says it is our biggest concern - TBF Jan 2014 #9
When people get fed up . . . Brigid Jan 2014 #10
 

aristocles

(594 posts)
4. Yes, many, many times
Tue Jan 21, 2014, 06:17 AM
Jan 2014

Throughtout medieval times on the European continent and all areas in the Middle East. Imperial Rome. Byzantine and ancient Greece. Dynastic Egypt. All regions originally conquered during the spread of Islam. China throughout history. Japan before industrialization. Mexico through most of history.

Need I go on? I could.

dipsydoodle

(42,239 posts)
3. Since you've used the expression "civilization"
Tue Jan 21, 2014, 06:09 AM
Jan 2014

then assume complete and even redistribution of wealth across the planet.

What do you think the outcome would be ?

Do you think for example that those who have created wealth would repeat that in the knowledge that the redistribution exercise would likely be repeated ? Would those with new found wealth have any cause to work ? Would there be any point in having banking system as we currently know it given that a large proportion of the world's population probably don't use bank accounts?

 

Coyotl

(15,262 posts)
6. Why assume that?
Tue Jan 21, 2014, 12:48 PM
Jan 2014

Civilization does not equate with some Marxist ideal.
Civilization arises where there is a surplus of wealth/resources.
Show me one egalitarian civilization in the history of humanity?

You begin with a false premise, so your whole argument fails.

TBF

(32,056 posts)
9. Oxfam says it is our biggest concern -
Tue Jan 21, 2014, 12:54 PM
Jan 2014

and I certainly agree.

From NPR:

World's Richest 1 Percent Control Half Of Global Wealth
by Scott Neuman
January 20, 2014 3:04 PM

Just 1 percent of the world's population controls nearly half of the planet's wealth, according to a ahead of the World Economic Forum's annual meeting.

The study says this tiny slice of humanity controls $110 trillion, or 65 times the total wealth of the poorest 3.5 billion people.

Other key findings in the report:

— The world's 85 richest people own as much as the poorest 50 percent of humanity.

— 70 percent of the world's people live in a country where income inequality has increased in the past three decades.

— In the U.S., where the gap between rich and poor has grown at a faster rate than any other developed country, the top 1 percent captured 95 percent of post-recession growth (since 2009), while 90 percent of Americans became poorer.

"Oxfam is concerned that, left unchecked, the effects are potentially immutable, and will lead to 'opportunity capture' — in which the lowest tax rates, the best education, and the best healthcare are claimed by the children of the rich," the relief agency writes. "This creates dynamic and mutually reinforcing cycles of advantage that are transmitted across generations."

In other words, Oxfam says that if trends continue, the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer ...

Much more here: http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/01/20/264241052/oxfam-worlds-richest-1-percent-control-half-of-global-wealth

Brigid

(17,621 posts)
10. When people get fed up . . .
Tue Jan 21, 2014, 12:58 PM
Jan 2014

And start looking around for their torches and pitchforks, that's a problem.

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