Disparity.
That’s what we have here when it comes to money.
How else can I say it?
Discrepancy, inconsistency, imbalance, inequality, incongruity, unevenness, disproportion.
On the one hand, there is the very, very big. And on the other side, the tiniest bit of eensy.
When I checked on some figures, the wealth was spread a little wider than I had previously thought. According to Forbes Magazine, as of 2023, there are 735 billionaires in the U.S. And. The millionaires are more plentiful. There are almost 22 million of them.
On the lower end of things, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, 37.9 million people, or 11.5% of the U.S. population, lived in poverty in 2022. This number is based on the official poverty measure, which has remained largely unchanged since the mid-1960s. In addition, 12.2 million people lived just above the poverty line.
This seems wrong to me.
But. Let me say this about myself. I’m not a Socialist. I believe in Capitalism. I think there are a lot of people out there who have worked hard with their gifts and have rightfully made a good way for themselves. This has been the encapsulation of the American way.
When I was a kid, I cut grass or ran a paper route so that I could earn money to buy the treats I wanted. Like Esther Price Light Chocolate Butter Creams. And such. But I surely would not have thought that I should have handed over my earnings to Jimmy Reckers down the block, who spent his time lying in their backyard hammock reading Superman comic books.
I still feel that way.
But. Let me say this about myself. I believe our America should be helping those who are in need. I think there should be a system where this help is funded by everyone and regulated by the government. I also think that excessive wealth exists. And as such, the more you make, the more you should have to help. A fair capitalism would involve policies and mechanisms that address this inequality, such as progressive taxation and social safety nets.
Take someone like Elon Musk. Or Jeff Bezos.
These two seem to trade the top spots of the wealthiest in America.
Their net worth, each of them, is right around the $200 billion mark.
That’s $200 billion.
They each make around $2,500 per SECOND.
When they spend a million dollars, it is like you or I spending a dollar. Plink.
Here’s another thing.
Their net worth, each of them, is greater than some countries’ combined GDP.
Elon Musk’s net worth is greater than the combined GDP of Afghanistan, Costa Rica, and Iceland.
Trust me. GDP of Afghanistan = $22.9 Billion, GDP of Cost Rica = $64.8 Billion, GDP of Iceland = $31.6 Billion
And so many more.
So, putting some back into the system does not sound unreasonable to me.
I don’t know who would be the “judge” to determine what “excessive wealth” is. Probably those in Congress. But it is easy to see that these guys have a lot of moolah. Cash. Dough. Loot. Smackers. Cheddar.
If you have a yacht that costs $500 million, I think you can put a few million into the hungry pot.
In all fairness, both guys have contributed to charities and created foundations. But these donations are largely tax deductible.
I don’t have the answers to all of this, but I think we need to do some shaking and shifting from the very top on down. A true trickle-down effect to help those at the very bottom.
Or some good way to mend the disparity.
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“Kindness in giving creates love.” – Lao Tzu
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“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill
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“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” – Mother Teresa
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There’s a hole, there’s a hole.
