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Global economic disorder fuels forces of division
By Vijay Prashad
Source: al-Araby
January 24, 2015
As the worlds wealthy and their intellectuals gather at Davos, Switzerland, for the World Economic Forum, the economic news from international agencies seems bleak
Dramatically, Oxfam shows that the wealth of the richest eighty people doubled between 2009 and 2014, and now equals the total wealth of the bottom half of the worlds population.
Escape
The elites at Davos have no answers to these problems. Oxfams report presents a nine-point plan to exit the crisis.
Make governments work for citizens and tackle extreme inequality.
While this list is humane and even necessary, the social forces able to seriously push for this list are few. Oxfams report contains an important section on the lobbying efforts of the rich to maintain the current policies. Money buys political influence and prevents any reasonable discussion on inequality and joblessness. It is far easier to sequester the social wealth, stand aghast when social unrest intensifies, and then use armed forces to sow ferment in the already devastated lives of the worlds people.
The elites at Davos have no answers to these problems. Oxfams report presents a nine-point plan to exit the crisis.
Make governments work for citizens and tackle extreme inequality.
Promote womens economic equality and womens rights.
Share the tax burden fairly to level the playing field.
Close international tax loopholes and fill holes in tax governance.
Achieve universal free public services by 2020.
Change the global system for research and development and pricing of medicines so that everyone has access to appropriate and affordable medicines.
Implement a universal social protection floor.
Target development finance at reducing inequality and poverty, and strengthening the compact between citizens and their government.
This Oxfam list emerges firmly out of a social democratic tradition. It calls for the use of the hoarded social wealth to be used for social gain. These gains would produce a society that is not only happier but also with increased purchasing power the impetus for a more socially oriented growth trajectory.
While this list is humane and even necessary, the social forces able to seriously push for this list are few. Oxfams report contains an important section on the lobbying efforts of the rich to maintain the current policies. Money buys political influence and prevents any reasonable discussion on inequality and joblessness. It is far easier to sequester the social wealth, stand aghast when social unrest intensifies, and then use armed forces to sow ferment in the already devastated lives of the worlds people.
Full article: https://zcomm.org/znetarticle/global-economic-disorder-fuels-forces-of-division/
http://www.globaljustice.org.uk/dangerous-delusions
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Global economic disorder fuels forces of division (Original Post)
polly7
Jan 2015
OP
There is a simpler solution to the disrupting influence of the excessively wealthy
fasttense
Jan 2015
#1
fasttense
(17,301 posts)1. There is a simpler solution to the disrupting influence of the excessively wealthy
It's get rid of capitalism. Time to evolve out of such a rigged system into a democratic economic system.
polly7
(20,582 posts)2. You're right, but I can't see those who are making billions from it allowing it. nt.
fasttense
(17,301 posts)3. And yet there are millions more of us than of them.
Why do we need to get their permission?