Where inequality is being rolled back and society is becoming more equal
Every few months or years we get told how unequal the world is becoming, and how the wealthy elite are grabbing up everything.
Since 1980, the richest 0.1 percent of the world’s population increased its collective wealth by as much as the poorest 50 percent.
The top one percent, meanwhile, lay claim to 27 percent of global wealth growth — a fortune facilitated by a steep rise in the cohort’s share of global income beginning in the early 1990s (right after the Soviet Union fell).
The global middle class has seen virtually no income growth over the past four decades.
It makes one very pessimistic.
...and yet there is still hope.
There is one part of the world that has bucked this trend.
Latin America offers some useful lessons. Here, income inequality has actually fallen, as shown by a decline in the average Gini index by 13%, from 2000-2012. This bucks the global trend, of growing income inequality.
Gosh, I wonder what could have caused this amazing counter-trend? Oh, right! Socialism.
Income inequality in Latin America partly fell due to labour market shifts. Poor people’s wages rose due to the commodities boom (which fuelled demand for unskilled labour); higher skills (facilitated by government investment in education); and active labour market policies (enforcing labour laws and increasing minimum wages).
This was complemented by the redistribution of wealth. Rising public spending on healthcare, education and social protection improved both coverage and quality for all citizens.
In other words, everything bad in the world that should make everyone poorer, amirite?
Sure they are more equal - in poverty!
I don't even have to check the numbers, but I will anyway.
During the decade or so of high growth in Latin America, the percentage of people living in poverty on the continent fell from 42% to 26%, while the middle class grew from 22% to 34%.
Just like I thought!
Wait, what?
Poverty fell? The middle class doubled?
At the same time the region went socialist?
How is that possible? The neoliberals said that isn't possible. Could the neoliberals be wrong?
In the past year, Argentina, Chile, and Brazil all went with center-right governments, while Venezuela's semi-socialist economy is collapsing. So this trend toward equality and prosperity will likely end.
On the other hand, Mexico may be electing a socialist in July, so who knows?
Comments
Not to worry, we'll show' em.
Wait 'til Trump's tax cuts kick in. You're gonna' see that Gini drop like nobody's ever seen before.
We wanted decent healthcare, a living wage and free college.
The Democrats gave us Biden and war instead.
Honduras also just elected a leftist
except he is not being allowed to take office.
Mary Bennett
Honduras
Hillary: the gift that keeps on giving......
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Socialism in America
“Socialism never took root in the United States because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat, but rather as temporarily embarassed millionaires.”
–Ronald Wright, “A Short History of Progress”
How did other countries do what they did? Wasn't Iceland the only country that prosecuted the banks and broke them up? They recovered from the crash much sooner than other countries. Instead we had farmer Barry standing in front of our pitchforks. And the goon squad that broke up OWS.
Which AIPAC/MIC/pharma/bank bought politician are you going to vote for? Don’t be surprised when nothing changes.
Because plutocracy is written into the constitution.
And every attempt to change that has been met with the forces of government, corporation and millionaire/billionaire alike. And we've been under the John Adams model of government ever since.
Modern education is little more than toeing the line for the capitalist pigs.
Guerrilla Liberalism won't liberate the US or the world from the iron fist of capital.
How much more proof do we need?
Trickle down = tinkle down. Economies are better when demand driven. Business folks are maniacs driven to become successful. You can't slow them down. Whereas the working folks, unemployed and poor have no recourse. The best economy that we had was the recovery economy from WWII when the highest income tax bracket was 90%+. The rule of thumb for business owners was to keep you wealth in your business, expand, hire more workers, invest in tech and infrastructure. What right do wealthy business owners have to privatize their profits? Oh yeah, it's part of the English class system that we inherited. Clearly our form of democracy is completely dysfunctional, since the vast majority of voters cannot vote for candidates that will work in the people's interest. And, we kill by the millions to export this so-called democracy. How do we get the American people to wake up?
Good essay, gjohnsit. Is it always true that successful Socialist democracies eventually get destroyed by the oligarchs? Perhaps nascent Socialist countries should take heed of this and neuter their Oligarchs as soon as possible. I'm sure that most of this community could come up with a list of ways to do this. Also any business/media/NGO financed by the US should be considered a hostile foreign entity and regulated, as per the US model. Even though not really under threat, the US is showing the way to do this, meanwhile really threatening every other nation on the planet.
Capitalism has always been the rule of the people by the oligarchs. You only have two choices, eliminate them or restrict their power.
Let's compare the quality of life here with that of Scandinavia
In this survey of quality of life 3 of the top 5 are Scandinavian. The other 2 are semi-socialists Canada and Australia.
Then there's Norway which didn't make the list above...
https://borgenproject.org/norway-quality-of-life-far-exceeds-america/
I wonder about nationalizing natural resources. If we look at Norway's success it seems a good idea.
https://mg.co.za/article/2011-09-08-oil-together-now-nationalisation-les...
We are so exceptional in the US that the thought other countries have better approaches is foreign to our thought process. As you illustrate with your essay even struggling S. America has less inequality than us...with more inequality on track as the tax cuts go into effect. Boy are we misled and manipulated!
“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”
@Lookout
I've just been watching this, which seems pertinent, to say the least.
(Under 15 minutes, but very informative.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8g-3REl2pQ
Edit: and am trying to watch this, from 2013, (which potentially seems to explain a lot/justify recently rising suspicions,) with periodic restarts to try to get the videos running for a bit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-nC36D3nBk
Psychopathy is not a political position, whether labeled 'conservatism', 'centrism' or 'left'.
A tin labeled 'coffee' may be a can of worms or pathology identified by a lack of empathy/willingness to harm others to achieve personal desires.