Curb Zone - View Single Post - "Rich are getting richer, poor are getting poorer"???

Snake Vargas · 04-22-2006, 08:56 AM

How's this for food for thought: for the rich to get richer, the poor must get poorer, or remain relatively poor.

Money doesn't come from nowhere, except in the way that natural resources are converted into useable goods. All other 'wealth' is simply recirculated and redistributed. Shares are a wealth distribution tool - the money that the company makes is distributed to its shareholders, whether through dividends or increased worth. The company makes money from its business partners. That's more or less the rest of the population, in some way or another.

So, for any particular person in society to get rich quick, there is always going to be a loser. Every time someone buys into a certain fund because it makes the most profit, then all that's doing is sending the message that profit is the most important thing for a company. Then the message is reinforced that the only thing people care about is money. That's when you get more bank fees, poorer service and utility, 'rationalisation', outsourcing and sacking of employees, all so that a profit can be turned.

Now, if you have no problem with that, then so be it. We all need money to buy food and to pay bills, and there's nothing wrong with that. There's also nothing wrong with trying to make the most of your money. Just be aware that the source of that money is your neighbour. That's fair to a certain extent - in that if they buy things, then they're more or less voluntarily contributing to that company.. but sometimes they really have little choice.

So, rant over but still without a clear point, I can just say that I am increasingly of the opinion that good social responsibility from both corporations, citizens and governments is necessary to stop society becoming greed-centred, selfish and mercenary (ie. primarily concerned with money and/or profit). I don't believe that would be a good society to live in.

04-22-2006, 08:56 AM	#18 (permalink)
Snake Vargas Fanatic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia Posts: 1,201 Thanks: 0 Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts	Re: "rich are getting richer, poor are getting poorer"??? How's this for food for thought: for the rich to get richer, the poor must get poorer, or remain relatively poor. Money doesn't come from nowhere, except in the way that natural resources are converted into useable goods. All other 'wealth' is simply recirculated and redistributed. Shares are a wealth distribution tool - the money that the company makes is distributed to its shareholders, whether through dividends or increased worth. The company makes money from its business partners. That's more or less the rest of the population, in some way or another. So, for any particular person in society to get rich quick, there is always going to be a loser. Every time someone buys into a certain fund because it makes the most profit, then all that's doing is sending the message that profit is the most important thing for a company. Then the message is reinforced that the only thing people care about is money. That's when you get more bank fees, poorer service and utility, 'rationalisation', outsourcing and sacking of employees, all so that a profit can be turned. Now, if you have no problem with that, then so be it. We all need money to buy food and to pay bills, and there's nothing wrong with that. There's also nothing wrong with trying to make the most of your money. Just be aware that the source of that money is your neighbour. That's fair to a certain extent - in that if they buy things, then they're more or less voluntarily contributing to that company.. but sometimes they really have little choice. So, rant over but still without a clear point, I can just say that I am increasingly of the opinion that good social responsibility from both corporations, citizens and governments is necessary to stop society becoming greed-centred, selfish and mercenary (ie. primarily concerned with money and/or profit). I don't believe that would be a good society to live in.