Posted by alexandra_k on November 17, 2005, at 17:14:27
In reply to Re: just one more... » alexandra_k, posted by AuntieMel on November 17, 2005, at 13:44:55
> But then how come...
> The distribution of wealth is still so imbalanced???"
> A lot of the problem is that those with money know how to handle it, amass it, make it work for them. And they pass this economic knowledge down.
But that amounts to whose *with* money handling their money well. I'm most concerned... About those *without* enough money to meet their basic needs in the first place.
> Accumulating wealth has more to do with living habits than earning potential.Well... For those who earn an excess to what they need, sure.
> I can't see (except for the most destitute homeless) why anyone who makes ends meet couldn't do it on 5% to 10% less and save and invest the rest.
Maybe... It comes of people *just* being able to meet their basic needs. Not being able to do that on 5% or 10% less.
And maybe... It comes of those little 'luxuries' in life being what... Enables one to persist in living. To manage to get up out of bed and work long hours in a mind numbing job etc (as Cricket noted). Because... The minimum wage is pretty low... Pretty low indeed.
I found this article... I don't know how dodgey it is... But it said that a low ranking military guy would get $1,000 per month to live in New York City. That... There were food banks set up for military personel because... Sometimes they needed that. Even with their wives earning two jobs... And for those with kids... So there... You have hard working people... Still unable to meet their basic needs. I'm not sure that they could do with 5-10% less.
Thats to say nothing of all the unskilled laborers out there. Factory workers. Etc.
If you are talking about the middle class... Those who have an excess to their basic needs in the first place... Then savings helps. Sure.
I'm a little concerned that this idea...
That *most* people could be a millionaire if only they saved harder. If only they worked harder to save harder. I'm a bit concerned that this idea... Is what 'resigns people' to accept the status quo. If they are not a millionaire then it is somehow their own fault because they didn't work harder or save harder.But...
Is it fair that some people are born millionaires already while others are not?
Is it fair that some people *can* work harder and save harder and become millionaires, while others could not?
Is it fair that a large portion of the worlds population doesn't have their basic needs met...
While other people... Could possibly be millionaires?And if it is not fair...
Then what (if anything) should be done about it?
poster:alexandra_k
thread:578654
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20050924/msgs/579749.html