Have you ever found yourself referring to those with money as privilleged? It's easy to do. It's the old us vs. them scenerio. Those with money have all the power; living in their ivory towers amidst luxury and opulence. While the rest of us struggle with all the problems of day-to-day living; working, paying the bills...trying to just stay afloat. It seems unfair.
But wealth is really a lot more than than just money. Wealth means different things to different people. About the only folks who probably don't understand this are the top 1% of the world's richest humans. There's no denying that having extra cash makes living easier. It does. When you no longer have to worry about your old car breaking down on the way to work, or how you're going to pay for the mortgage each month, live becomes less worrisome and more pleasurable. If you ask a person in Malawi or the Congo what is wealth, they will no doubt tell you that wealth means having enough food to eat every day, clean water to drink and bathe in, and medical care for their sick child. This is very different from what you or I might think of as wealth; a beautiful home, expensive cars, travel to exotic lands...
I think we need a new way to look at wealth. There's no denying that there should be a more equitable distribution of money. There are too many have-nots compared to the number of haves. Beyond money, we need to share resources, as well. Food, water, medicine, and education...to name but a few.
Many wealthy people are, I think, clueless as to what poverty means or even looks like. They've never experienced it first hand. It's not their fault they're rich. In many cases, the wealth has been passed down through generations. Some have worked hard to obtain their money, but probably didn't start off at the bottom of the wealth heap. And then there are a few Horotio Alger stories. Those folks know what it's like to be "dirt poor" and are usually pretty generous with their new-found status.
Education is key here. Perhaps those Ivy League professionals need a different perhaps kind of training; a coure on what it's like to struggle every day, just to get by. It would be an eye-opening experience for them, and one they'd not likely forget.
Wealth is a big problem in this world and I certainly don't know what the solution is. As a frog, my biggest problem is where to find the fatest bugs. Although my of my kind are in dire straits from disease, climate change, and vanishing habitats. But, again, these issues can be overcome through education and a willingness on the part of humans to protect their world and everyone in it. Everyone is the key word here.
In the long run, wealth needn't be about us vs. them; it should be more about using what we do have to help those that are on the rung below us. Whether you have a lot to share, or very little, there's somebody worse off who could you a little help.
Try looking at wealth a little differently; it starts with gratitude. And don't just point a finger at the rich guy and say it's all his fault. It's up to everyone of us to help when and where we can. See what you can do, on a personal level, to help level the playing field,,,just a bit. It's a funny thing about giving to others; when you do, you inevitably wind up being the one who is helped the most.
But wealth is really a lot more than than just money. Wealth means different things to different people. About the only folks who probably don't understand this are the top 1% of the world's richest humans. There's no denying that having extra cash makes living easier. It does. When you no longer have to worry about your old car breaking down on the way to work, or how you're going to pay for the mortgage each month, live becomes less worrisome and more pleasurable. If you ask a person in Malawi or the Congo what is wealth, they will no doubt tell you that wealth means having enough food to eat every day, clean water to drink and bathe in, and medical care for their sick child. This is very different from what you or I might think of as wealth; a beautiful home, expensive cars, travel to exotic lands...
I think we need a new way to look at wealth. There's no denying that there should be a more equitable distribution of money. There are too many have-nots compared to the number of haves. Beyond money, we need to share resources, as well. Food, water, medicine, and education...to name but a few.
Many wealthy people are, I think, clueless as to what poverty means or even looks like. They've never experienced it first hand. It's not their fault they're rich. In many cases, the wealth has been passed down through generations. Some have worked hard to obtain their money, but probably didn't start off at the bottom of the wealth heap. And then there are a few Horotio Alger stories. Those folks know what it's like to be "dirt poor" and are usually pretty generous with their new-found status.
Education is key here. Perhaps those Ivy League professionals need a different perhaps kind of training; a coure on what it's like to struggle every day, just to get by. It would be an eye-opening experience for them, and one they'd not likely forget.
Wealth is a big problem in this world and I certainly don't know what the solution is. As a frog, my biggest problem is where to find the fatest bugs. Although my of my kind are in dire straits from disease, climate change, and vanishing habitats. But, again, these issues can be overcome through education and a willingness on the part of humans to protect their world and everyone in it. Everyone is the key word here.
In the long run, wealth needn't be about us vs. them; it should be more about using what we do have to help those that are on the rung below us. Whether you have a lot to share, or very little, there's somebody worse off who could you a little help.
Try looking at wealth a little differently; it starts with gratitude. And don't just point a finger at the rich guy and say it's all his fault. It's up to everyone of us to help when and where we can. See what you can do, on a personal level, to help level the playing field,,,just a bit. It's a funny thing about giving to others; when you do, you inevitably wind up being the one who is helped the most.
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