Comments on: The rich versus the seething masses

By: XRayD

XRayD — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 15:39:37 +0000

It is Anna HaZare, not Harare.

By: CitizenWhy

CitizenWhy — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 01:43:12 +0000

The super-rich are the state in the USA too. Lobbying, SuperPacs, ALEC, military-industrial complex, etc.

By: jaham

jaham — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:16:15 +0000

Don’t kid yourself, this same thing occurs in China but the government keeps any backlash as muted as possible. As China continues to prosper and the hundreds of millions of rural families living an impoverished lifestyle without even electricity learn what others have, there will be more social unrest; there already is, as aforementioned.

China will prosper and a rising tide does lift all boats, but not evenly. China is akin to America in the 20th century and has tremendous growth potential. But just as in Ameerica, China will not grow without the commensurate growing pains that entail social unrest and the like.

The truth is that greed is inherent in all of us. And if we reached a level of power and impunity that made us believe we could indulge ourselves in pure glutony with no reprecussions, my argument is that it is purely human nature to do so. That is why this mantra of the 1% and their lavish lifestyle rings true in EVERY country in the world, without fail.

Heck, in America, the media portrays this “celebrity” lifestyle as the American Dream, essentially, and in that light it is socially condoned.

By: Dafydd

Dafydd — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 13:03:53 +0000

If you were a teenager such talk would get you arrested under the terrorism act.

Anyway “And where will they seriously not take it first”. Are you for real?

Tunisia, then Egypt, then Libya.

My bet for the break out from the Arab world is France. When they notice voting socialist gets you a conservative president, bound to have a scrap then. Besides, their connections with North Africa are massive.

By: GMavros

GMavros — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 05:36:23 +0000

@Greenspan2;
I am not sure if you and I will live to see that day, but I can assure it is coming. I have lived most of my last 9 years in China and the under 35′s Chinese are very much enlightened, indeed. They depend on these reforms for their future, and they are quietly and effectively forcing their implementation without the need for violence or revolts.
They have also very wisely been observing developments in western societies and are aware of their shortcomings.
They are very cautious in adopting western concepts, and when they do adopt some, they have always modified them to fit their particular needs.
A very poor & still oppressed, but a enlightened society, are the Chinese.

By: Greenspan2

Greenspan2 — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:43:04 +0000

Who would have thought that America would have to look to China for lessons on social stability and opportunity for achieving what the rest of the world perceives as the “American Dream”. What will the 1%, and those pathetically attempting to emulate them, do if not able to enrich themselves with arbitrage, artificial inflation, rents, and gaming the system? Would they have to actually work for a living? Perhaps be participants in a real society rather than parasites fattening themselves while draining the blood and energy of an entire nation, if not the whole world. Will I live to see the day?

By: PseudoTurtle

PseudoTurtle — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 21:20:17 +0000

Perhaps, if the US government were wise and understood the history of what is happening — a paradigm shift in social/economic awareness by people around the world — it might take heed of the rising anger of its own people.

By the way, you failed to include the US in this comment “as in Russia and China, where the very rich often have the backing of the state, or sometimes, are the state”.

Contrary to popular belief, this country is and always has been a plutocracy, which means rule by the wealthy class.

By: ethanalden

ethanalden — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 20:02:32 +0000

Globalisation of the world economy leads to corporations, yielding the low prices the populace demands through mass production and incessant optimization. One must admit that such a model inevitably leads to wealth concentration.

If the so-called “99%” wish to close the wealth gap and more evenly distribute income, they must revise their consumption habits, favoring local/small business and empowering the middle class by increasing cash flow among the less financially fortunate.

After all, it is the “99%” who have chosen to line the pockets of the rich with their money (barring, of course, the rich who have broken laws to acquire wealth).

By: GMavros

GMavros — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:46:28 +0000

A very sober report.

Every country should take Mr. Wen Jiabao’s warnings very seriously, as they are applicable to all of us.

The Chinese, despite being in their still early stages of development, have demonstrated remarkable wisdom in running their country.
I have a strong feeling that China will lead the world in the gradual implementation of the reforms necessary for a more “Harmonious World Society”.

By: ARJTurgot2

ARJTurgot2 — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 18:05:39 +0000

Paradoxically, the rise of the rest is going to cause a rise in the status of the middle-class in both Europe and the U.S. China is increasingly not competitive on labor costs. The rising boat there is making them uncompetitive globablly and eventually they will have to focus on growing their local economy. Rising labor costs are also making the bizarre movement of goods for processing unfeasible. We are on the brink of the re-emergence of local production.