I have read some of the site before, but......might give it another go.
I suppose my sense is that 'imported goods you don't need' is so subjective. There's actually very little you need in life, and you mostly spend money on what you want.
My question over the rich-poor divide argument is that it is often postulated in a way that suggests two tribes, the rich and the poor, growing apart. Actually that's just not true. Grab the Sunday Times rich list and see how many are people whose parents were in there. Some obviously, like the Queen, but actually most have not begun life in that elite, and the wealthiest few percent are constantly changing.
I personally have no problem with wealth gaps IF (and only if mind) we also have mobility - i.e. it's not the same families being rich and the same families being poor. As long as that's true, I couldn't give a crap that some people have loads of money. Good for them.
(I suppose my sense is that 'imported goods you don't need' is so subjective. There's actually very little you need in life, and you mostly spend money on what you want.
My question over the rich-poor divide argument is that it is often postulated in a way that suggests two tribes, the rich and the poor, growing apart. Actually that's just not true. Grab the Sunday Times rich list and see how many are people whose parents were in there. Some obviously, like the Queen, but actually most have not begun life in that elite, and the wealthiest few percent are constantly changing.
I personally have no problem with wealth gaps IF (and only if mind) we also have mobility - i.e. it's not the same families being rich and the same families being poor. As long as that's true, I couldn't give a crap that some people have loads of money. Good for them.
prince-igor si tacuisses, philosophus mansisses,
Fri 8 Jul 2011, 16:24,
archived)