Beggars and Billionaires

All men are created equal - but whilst some dine in fine restaurants, others languish in soup kitchens.

Nothing makes my blood boil more than seeing inequality in the quality of lives of human beings.

Why should there be children and adults starving in the world whilst others get to drink champagne and eat caviar and crayfish ? The term morally reprehensible comes to mind. I can think of many other descriptors to articulate this wrong - but the list would become too tedious to type; and only serve to infuriate me even more.

Joyfully though, finally folk of influence are waking up to, and speaking out against this, bizarrely, tolerated but utterly unacceptable, situation.

Responsible Leadership

Jim Bolger, former Prime Minister of New Zealand, was recently interviewed on the imminent change of leadership of the New Zealand National Party. During that interview he mentioned a book that deals with the subject of re-imagining capitalism. I believe that is Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire by Professor Rebecca Henderson: which deals with a system that has lost its moral and ethical foundation.

Mr Bolger accurately articulated the current state of inequality when he said:

Clearly the model that is being pursued across the world now is dividing societies. Some are getting obscenely rich and others are going to the food kitchens and that's a dangerous position for a society.

It may not be popular with some, but equal distribution of wealth is the right thing to do; and in fact, is exactly what is needed to address this abhorrent state of affairs.

'We are the Reset'

Christopher Luxon, newly elected leader of the New Zealand National Party (the 'official opposition' in New Zealand) has, during his press statement introducing himself and Nicola Willis as his deputy, said "We are the reset".

Christopher, if you truly want to 'reset' then make it a Grand Reset: starting by setting a world-wide standard for societal values.

Luxon and Willis: if you want to leave a legacy, make New Zealand the land of equal distribution of wealth. A land of equality in the quality of life of all.

Abolish soup kitchens by abolishing obscene wealth, i.e. abolish billionaires. Do whatever it takes, in New Zealand at least, to eradicate poverty and extremes of wealth.

It's not that difficult. It simply takes courage to do the right thing. Redistribute wealth from the rich to the poor until everyone is on an equal footing. Redesign the tax system to achieve this: No income tax for those below the national income median. That is not a difficult thing to accomplish: simply takes the stroke of a pen in the hands of the Minister of Finance.

Take what society needs from the coffers of the wealthy. That is what community is all about: wealth being used to uplift the quality of life of all (through equal distribution of wealth) . Community (should) always come first. Our social welfare system does not achieve this. At best it's a band aid, but does nothing to address the causes of inequality.

Everyone loves Robin Hood because of his actions in redistributing wealth from the rich to the poor. Robin Hood is a genuine hero.

I'm hoping Mr Luxon has a quiver filled with moral and ethical arrows and his aim is true ... but; I'm not convinced that he has the balls, or the will, to implement the radical changes necessary to achieve equality: he is, after all, a businessman who owns 7 properties - the greatest number of any current Member of Parliament - in the midst of the greatest housing unaffordability crisis New Zealand has ever seen. Unfortunately, as far as timing goes, that is not a good look.

I hope that Christopher Luxton proves me wrong. In fact, I desperately hope so...

Warped Societal Values

How can you - the reader of this article - live with a clear conscious when you watch an advert for the latest 80 inch tv, followed seconds later by an appeal for donations to a charity that helps distribute food bags in some desolate part of Africa, and not feel that the situation of inequality of life is unjust.

It's simply not good enough to sit back and just say "See how lucky we are children; you should be grateful that you have a roof over your head and food on your plates."

It's not acceptable living in a world of beggars and billionaires. This situation should never have been allowed to happen. It has; but we should tolerate it no more.

We should be shaming; not lauding billionaires. No one man (or woman) is more important, or valuable, than any other. Our societal values need to impress and enforce this, through mechanisms - such as tax laws that bring all of society to one equal level of wealth.

As a species, we are not here to serve our own personal interests. Our purpose is to serve others. This is especially the case when it comes to being a public servant aka a politician - who are there only to serve the Best interests of the people. In this sense, people means the majority; not the few well-heeled who live 'the life of Riley'. You, elected politicians, are servants of the people - so act accordingly.

So .... let's see what this 'reset' that Mr Luxon and Mrs Willis claim to be, is all about ...

I'll close with this quote from Mahatma Gandhi:

The world has enough for everyone's needs, but not everyone's greed.