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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKevin O’Leary Against the World. (You Say you Want a Revolution.)
Oxfam released a report on January 20, 2014 highlighting the income inequality gap and its associated problems. One fact from the report stands out as especially glaring. The bottom half of the worlds population owns the same as the richest 85 people in the world. This put some perspective on a problem that doesnt get a lot attention in the main stream media. The full report can be read here.
While there was mostly outrage to this particular statistic, in some of the more callus corners of the planet the reaction was a little more surprising. While Ben Stein and Bill OReilly of Fox News agreed this was a moral issue and implied it may be wrong in some sense, they refused to say there was any connection to so much wealth being controlled by so few, and the destitution of so many. A problem with no obvious cause, and no ready solution. This take allows for a conscience to be soothed, while blocking the most obvious forms of correction, such as reversing the policies that made this inequality gap so vast in the first place. But so far, the prize for, as Keith Olbermann used to say, The Worst Person in the World would go to Kevin OLeary, billionaire and horrible person. His reaction - This is fantastic news. Of course, I applaud it. What could be wrong with this?... It inspires everybody to get some motivation to look up to the 1 per cent and say I want to become one of those people, Im going to fight hard to get up to the top. As if billions would stop starving and being lazy if they only knew they could be rich instead. That would be much better.
Society has a history of rallying around their heroes and rallying against their villains. Well, there is a villain ready-made to represent the worst of the incredibly wealthy, and his name is Kevin OLeary. Greed, stupidity, cruelty, selfishness, you name it, and if its a bad quality representative of the worst of the powerful, Mr. OLeary possesses it. If he had the power, he once said, he would throw union members in jail. This is a very bad thing for the wealthy if someone as easily detestable as Kevin OLeary becomes the face the 1%. Because eventually somethings going to break and the scales will readjust. What form that readjustment will take is up to the powerful. Will it be peaceful or violent? Slow or abrupt? Sooner rather than later? We dont know yet. But if the trends continue in the future as they have for the past few decades, it doesnt bode well for those who have rigged the game in their favor.
When the economy gets bad enough and income inequality is obvious to those who are suffering, the people eventually demand action. In the United States during the Progressive Era and the 1930s, the action was relatively peaceful and political in nature. (With of course a smattering of strikers being killed and beaten by Pinkertons, National Guard and police in both eras, such as a 1902 coal strike in Pana, Illinois where 14 miners were killed and the 1937 Little Steel strike where police killed 10.) This of course is not always the case. The economy in Russia in the early 20th century was dismal and led (with other causes also playing a part) to revolutions in 1905 and 1917, which were much bloodier than what happened in the United States during the same time period. And the French Revolution is infamous for its bloodiness, also brought about by the many living without.
Hopefully the economy will become fairer in a peaceful, calm manner because people have woken up to the reality of whats been happening. They will organize and demand political changes that brought about the emergence of the middle class during the 1930s and 1940s. We already know what to do; its just a matter of political will. That is by far the most preferred and likely outcome.
But if greed overtakes sense, (like it often does ) and the few keep taking from the many the system will break violently. I really hope were smarter than that. But if were not, at least Kevin OLeary will make us feel better about it.
punkin87
(350 posts)Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,773 posts)assignment that you were to judge? Seriously, I'm not busting on you, it just strikes me as odd.
punkin87
(350 posts)But your comment is. At least it strikes me that way.
Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,773 posts)saying something nice about the article. I specifically asked why many of the responses seemed to be about the piece as opposed to the ideas therein. Look at any DU OP and compare the responses to of those to these. I can't find any other OP that has replies that seem to be evaluating the post as a post, as opposed to what it says.
The OP is talking about wealth inequality, specifically noting that The bottom half of the worlds population owns the same as the richest 85 people in the world. It goes on to say that in the past citizens have eventually responded to such inequality, sometimes in peaceful and other times in violent ways.
What is "This is very good" saying? That wealth inequality is good or that the fact that sometimes people respond violently and sometimes they don't is "good"? What is the "this" that the reply is calling good?
What exactly were you referring to as "Very well done?" in your reply? Or The way Kevin O'Leary's responded to the fact of wealth inequality?
Your "Very well done" reply, the "This is very good" reply, and even the "Well said", reply don't even go on to discuss any of the ideas, so the only thing they seem to comment on is the OP itself, as opposed to what it discusses.
Again, I can't find another DU OP with a preponderance of such responses that seem to refer to the post as opposed to what the post discusses.
As I said, I was curious. Ten days ago when I asked the question. Not a big deal, just something that piqued my curiosity on that day.
suede1
(892 posts)marym625
(17,997 posts)K&R
I don't believe we will get out of this without major violence. I think it has gone too far already. I also think that the only way it will end is the wealthiest turning on each other. Corporations fighting for a larger piece of the pie and those that run it not accepting taking the second largest piece.
Regardless of how the scales level out, nothing will happen without ridding the world of Citizens United and other such groups. Without taking the power from the wealthy by having fair elections, public funding, etc.
However it ends, I hope O'Leary loses. Better yet, is lost.
20score
(4,769 posts)Last edited Sun Feb 2, 2014, 07:56 AM - Edit history (1)
And thanks!
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)20score
(4,769 posts)laundry_queen
(8,646 posts)and if he becomes the face of the 1% - good. He IS detestable, cruel, selfish, greedy and stupid. In fact, he's so stupid, he doesn't even understand that economically, he'd do better long term if there was more wealth equality. But his selfish side wants it all for himself. He'd rather have a million dollars an hour if someone else is making $10/hr than to have 8 million dollars an hour if someone else is making $800,000/hr. It's all about feeling better, more powerful, smarter...because he isn't any of those things. He's a miserable whiny turd and so, he must put himself on a pedestal to make himself feel better. Like a 5 year old bragging about having all the chocolate chip cookies.
Luckily for the US, this asshole is Canadian so he won't be influencing any of your elections soon. Sadly, his show influences far too many people here. He's the only person that can make me change the channel off of CBC.