The gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen in much of the world. It doesn't have to be this way, or does it? What is YOUR opinion? Check out the pics at this link: http://deputy-dog.com/2007/09/19/extreme-rich-poor-divides/
I'm neither rich (yet) nor poor. I have been richer than I am today and I most certainly have been so poor, I had to visit a food shelter to help feed my family. I've seen the spectrum. Should I have a reasonable expectation that those who have worked harder or been fortunate to inherit millions, give me a slice of their pie? I often see this argument. The last time I saw it, I made an open offer for any of the rich that were complaining about the gap, to send me money, cash, gold, silver, real estate deeds, cars or anything else worth value, to quench their feelings of guilt for being rich. No one ever took me up on the offer.
Your talking about South America, lots of corruption in government which retards economic growth. Which in part is why there no middle class in most of south America.
I've been on both sides of the fence myself.. I've often said charity starts at home. If I ever come into large amounts of money, I plan to start helping those closest to me first.
sadly most of us in the first world will never know real poverty. just posted a thread about the desperate state of zimbabwe, where it costs a week's wages to buy a loaf of bread, that is if you are lucky enough to have a week's wages, for jobs are scarce, and right now the present age at which most zimbabweans can expect to live to is 35 years! our children measure poverty by whether we can afford to buy them the latest designer trainers or pay for them to go abroad for their holidays. which is a good thing, isn't it? or are we just becoming too selfish and out of touch with what people from other countries have to go through? some would argue that charity begins at home, but for those lucky enough to be living in the first world i think it should start in those countries that truly need it. and don't forget that by forming pressure groups and lobbying governments we can help reduce the national debts of these countries and increase aid budgets, as well as getting reluctant governments to impose sanctions on ruthless foreign dictators who brutalise their already starving populations, and insisting that the UN takes a more pro-active role.
Dhridley, yes family and friends first to a degree. When u have friends that are living middle class and some stranger off the streets needs a place to stay and a warm meal you better believe im gonna help that stranger first, and if my friends dont understand this, then they are spoiled and not my friends. I have also been on both sides of the fence, but i have always found time for my fellow human beings. Gtech, hope things are better for your family now man
The answer is a strong Middle Class. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: the reason why America became such a strong nation is because we had a large Middle Class and upwards mobility. You could actually be born poor, and if you worked hard enough, or had natural talent, or gained talent, you could work you way up into the Middle Class or become filthy rich. This is why Americans invented the airplane, the Internet(ARPANET), and so many other great inventions. America is one of the few countries where a man with humble beginnings like Abraham Lincoln could go on to become President. The gap between the rich and the poor is rising precisely because of the destruction of the Middle Class, especially here in America. While many people here in this forum continue to downplay the decline of the dollar, and the threat that the Chinese pose in dumping their dollar reserves, overwhelming evidence shows that the Middle Class is being intentionally destroyed. Once the Middle Class is destroyed, America is finished. Socialism and Communism doesn't work, in fact these ideas where created by powerful banking families. Capitalism has been proven to work, and in any society, you will always have rich and poor, but in a free society, there should be a strong Middle Class. I would also like to add that a lot of people are poor because they choose to be. They go in debt, waste money on things that don't matter, they don't save money, they don't become educated, and they have a bunch of kids before they're ready. For millions of people worldwide, poverty is often a self inflicted wound. Not in all cases, but in a lot of them.
Yes we have a very upward mobile society where a strong education can lead people out of poverty and into a better life. I’ll explain later why a low dollar to a certain degree isn’t bad. In fact helps the middle class.
In the same note, a good education can be purchased. The middleclass pay for their education out of their money rather than mom and dads. Middleclass citizens come out of school with thousands in debt while poor and rich students alike pay nothing out of their pocket for education