to be utterly incensed that the gap between the very richest people and everyone else in society is getting wider and wider?

[Mintyy]

They are rich. Why can't it stop there?

Why do they have to go from being multi millionaires to billionaires to multi billionaires?

I wouldn't find it so hard to swallow if the opportunity to earn more was open to everyone, but it most definitely is not.

The fact that the gap between the richest and the poorest in our country is widening enormously really sickens me to the back teeth.

Fraidy and others.
This may be wrong of me but I am a charity begins at home type of person. As far as I am concerned, the people in Belgium or where ever can be concerned about the income of Belguim.

I am concerned about the income levels of the UK citizens and what affects them.
I consider that each country has enough citizens of its own to deal with its own problems.

So, the UK. In the UK we have the welfare state or whatever it is called. So, regardlessof what is done with the "income" there should be just enough most times for that family to live on.

So all households should be at a pretty basic amangeable level.
So yes, I do concern myself with those who are raking in many many millions.

It is concerning when the many many millions people have become oblivious. Or maybe a better word is blind.

In some countries there are resources though.
In others there are few.
In some the people are living in a democracy.
In others they are oppressed.

I'm not ready to write off the rest of the world, personally.
But I bear responsibility for not doing enough to help them.

I dont write them off, but I cant hope to help or affect 220 countries.
So I will begin with 1. The 1 I live in.

And supposing that rich people can't care about poverty is the mistake of the stupid. There's no logical inconsistency to it.

Hear, hear.

And, if charity begins at home, do we cut foreign aid?? That would be the logical step...

You know, the "I'll look out for my lot first" (i.e. people here) over and above others elsewhere, is exactly the same principle as the richest looking after their counterparts.

You know, the "I'll look out for my lot first" (i.e. people here) over and above others elsewhere, is exactly the same principle as the richest looking after their counterparts.

I dont understand?

And I dont understand the "above others" bit.

And are the rich looking after the rich? I suppose they are. That had never occurred to me before.

Heck above. How awful.

You do realise that you are defending the indefensible?
I didnt realise that the rich were so defensible. Or that they looked after their own.

I believe they do. I think that's what's at the heart of it.

Re foreign aid - apparently it's partly to keep on reasonable terms with those countries as opposed to unadulterated altruism...

Re foreign aid - apparently it's partly to keep on reasonable terms with those countries as opposed to unadulterated altruism...

I am all for peace so that is a good idea in part.

Oh, and I'm not rich. What a bizarre thing to say.

I've got family who are (hard, hard workers) and some who live in shacks. I've seen poverty abroad and generally, it's far worse than here. I understand the poverty trap here, though, and think its dreadful. So, so sad.

I despise those who leech off others - the rich ones - and the ones who I pay for to have the kids I can't afford to have.

Why should we have give money to countries just so they won't get annoyed with us? Why can't they give US money?

Perhaps they are not so interested in peace as we are TucsonGirl.

I may have misunderstaood your post completely LondonRocks. If I did, then I am sorry.

You can't stop people making money if they're good at it.

Yes, I think peace is a good outcome. War is so costly in terms of lives and finance. Horribly so.

I do struggle with countries that can afford nuclear weapons receiving aid from us! But I guess that's a peacekeeping thing. Gives us a bit of sway?

Setting, no worries. I've probably not explained myself well

You can't stop people making money if they're good at it.

Some steal, overcharge, swindle etc, are involved in arms, illegal trade etc.

Some overcharge countries, hold them to ransom in some way etc.

Some are just greedy. And some are complicit in that to allow it.

The pure honest entreprneurs. I dont have a poblem with them so long as they are fair and honest and dont rip others off.
I would still expect them though to realise that they have become super rich and to act accordingly.

...and some people are just really good at making money. They could also be a bit shitty and not want to give back at all. Their money that they earned, no one can (nor should they be able to) tell them what to do with it.

No one is mentioning giving it all back.
There is a middle ground.

I didn't say give it ALL back. I meant even one penny back.

Coming back with my charts again Both of these are about the UK in 2013. Government data.

To those wittering on about how much tax the poor old rich people pay, please understand that the POOREST UK households pay the HIGHEST proportion of their earnings in tax (adjusted for benefits.)

The poorest 10% pay 35% of their income in tax; the richest pay 34%. This is at the heart of our inequality problem.

That richest 10% contains 3,190 Ultra High Net Worth individuals, the tiny elite of multi-millionaires & billionaires worth over $50m.

Coming back with my charts again Both of these are about the UK in 2013. Government data.

To those wittering on about how much tax the poor old rich people pay, please understand that the POOREST UK households pay the HIGHEST proportion of their earnings in tax (adjusted for benefits.)

The poorest 10% pay 35% of their income in tax; the richest pay 34%. This is at the heart of our inequality problem.

That richest 10% contains 3,190 Ultra High Net Worth individuals, the tiny elite of multi-millionaires & billionaires worth over $50m.

weird posting fails, sorry

weird posting fails, sorry