In the United Kingdom we have been suffering years of recession. But the richest amongst us have suffered no loss of life-style. In fact the top 100 chief executives were paid £425 million in 2012, up by £45 million, or 10%, from 2011. (London Evening Standard 10th June 2013)
At the same time, state benefits are being cut, millions of workers subsist on the minimum wage or ‘zero hours contracts’, many people have seen no increase in wages for years, and inflation eats into the spending power of those at the bottom of the income divide. The wealth gap between rich and poor is increasing in the United Kingdom, and in fact all over the world.
Throughout history there has always been a measure of inequality – sometimes worse than at other times. Much of what follows is written from a U.K. perspective, but other readers will find parallels in their own history and development.
Hunter-Gatherers in the Stone Age
At this stage of human development, inequality would probably be at its lowest, though a skilled hunter would obviously bring more meat home for his family. But for much hunting, cooperation would have been needed, increasing the fairness of society. Hopefully the disabled and sick would be cared for. Even then a more successful tribe might seek to plunder from a weaker tribe. But people living then had a hard life, and were totally susceptible to disease, causing low life expectancy.
A Feudal or Peasant System
In medieval England, the vast majority of people were serfs, or virtually slaves to the Lord of the Manor. Continue reading “Historical Inequality and the Future”
There can be no doubt that, in this world, there are gross injustices in the way wealth is distributed. There is a factor of millions between the billionaire living in California and the subsistence farmer in Africa trying to support her family on a dollar a day. In this article I am presenting the case for a world in which there is a fairer distribution of wealth both domestically and internationally.
Compassion and Justice 