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To:    Guardian CiF
Re:   The super-rich are a symptom of a sick society
Date: Sunday 17 June  07

 

In response to article by Henry Porter, "The super-rich are back, . . . . "

Link to article and thread at The Guardian.

 
The super-rich are a natural and inevitable consequence of a socio-economic order which developed (unsurprisingly, in view of human origins) both to serve and exploit our (specifically Europeans') animal nature and behaviour, which is characterized (notwithstanding individual exceptions) by an insatiable desire for POWER.

This was for good reason when it evolved, under entirely different circumstances, in the "natural environment" (not in the artificial, "socio-economic environment" we struggle for survival and advantage in today), where it was subject to natural limitations, which modern man has increasingly overcome. New limitations are emerging, of course, which a blind and ruthless Mother Nature is already beginning (although just "warming up") to implement.

MONEY, of course, within the context of a strong nation state and the rule of law (especially property law) is POWER in its most useful and versatile form.

POWER presents something of a dilemma and a paradox: our blind, dumb-animal desire for and use of it are rapidly degrading and disrupting the natural environment on which we depend, while in the hands of a wiser, more enlightened, human nature, it is what we need to put things right and secure our survival. But so long as our socio-economic order remains so deeply rooted in and dependent on our dumb-animal nature and behaviour, as it is now, there is no way that we can resolve this dilemma.

The super-rich are merely a symptom of the hopeless condition we find ourselves in.


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