Monday, July 11, 2011

Extremes of Poverty and Wealth in the US

"But if conditions are such that some are happy and comfortable and some in misery; some are accumulating exorbitant wealth and others are in dire want -- under such a system it is impossible for man to be happy and impossible for him to win the good pleasure of God. (Abdu'l-Baha, Foundations of World Unity, p. 41)"
It seems every week I come across an article outlining how the gaps between rich and poor keep widening in the US. The richest 20% in America own 85% of the wealth. It truly is sad and unjust.

Reading this article Blacks' economic gains wiped out in downturn, the extreme difference among racial lines is also clear. "By 2009, the median net worth for white households had fallen 24 percent to $97,860; the median black net worth had fallen 83 percent to $2,170.....for every dollar of wealth the average white household had, black households only had two cents."

I am glad I belong to a religion with central tenets against extremes of poverty and wealth. I urge everyone to “Be the change you want to see in the world.” (Mahatma Gandhi)

1 comment:

  1. Seriously?!?! (Oh, I'm clearly reading all the posts I've missed recently).

    I thought you had forgotten a few zeroes there. That's truly bewildering. Why isn't this more known?

    Wish there was something intelligent I could add to this, some solution, idea.. anything. But it all seems so big doesn't it?

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