This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2018/jan/28/as-the-rich-get-richer-the-fabric-of-the-state-is-torn-to-shreds
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| As the rich get richer, the fabric of the state is torn to shreds | As the rich get richer, the fabric of the state is torn to shreds |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Letters | Letters |
| Sun 28 Jan 2018 18.05 GMT | Sun 28 Jan 2018 18.05 GMT |
| Last modified on Sun 28 Jan 2018 22.00 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| View more sharing options | View more sharing options |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Close | Close |
| Mark Littlewood does the Institute of Economic Affairs no favours in parading the usual excuses to justify excessive wealth (Richest 42 people ‘own as much as world’s poorest 3.7 billion’, 22 January). “Race to the bottom”, “already highly taxed” – and not to miss a good opportunity, “higher minimum wages”, perish the thought, have no place in a civilised society. Apparently, it’s OK to sleep soundly in our beds knowing that 42 people have as much wealth as the poorest 3.7 billion. | Mark Littlewood does the Institute of Economic Affairs no favours in parading the usual excuses to justify excessive wealth (Richest 42 people ‘own as much as world’s poorest 3.7 billion’, 22 January). “Race to the bottom”, “already highly taxed” – and not to miss a good opportunity, “higher minimum wages”, perish the thought, have no place in a civilised society. Apparently, it’s OK to sleep soundly in our beds knowing that 42 people have as much wealth as the poorest 3.7 billion. |
| As ever, we get no attempt at justification for an economic system that allows half the world to live in comparative poverty, and certainly no debate on how the accumulation of wealth is exactly mirrored by the abundant access to economic power. | As ever, we get no attempt at justification for an economic system that allows half the world to live in comparative poverty, and certainly no debate on how the accumulation of wealth is exactly mirrored by the abundant access to economic power. |
| In other words, it’s the vast multitudes who ask politely for a rise, if they dare, whereas the charmed few have the unrestricted power to give themselves one. Oh, and don’t mention that we will be “fair” and only have the same percentage rise, because that would reveal that 2% of my pay is peanuts but 2% of your pay is far too big to put into print. Come off it, Mark.Peter RobinsonFelixstowe, Suffolk | In other words, it’s the vast multitudes who ask politely for a rise, if they dare, whereas the charmed few have the unrestricted power to give themselves one. Oh, and don’t mention that we will be “fair” and only have the same percentage rise, because that would reveal that 2% of my pay is peanuts but 2% of your pay is far too big to put into print. Come off it, Mark.Peter RobinsonFelixstowe, Suffolk |
| • In a message to Davos, Mark Goldring, Oxfam GB’s chief executive, claims inequality of wealth is a symptom of a system that is failing millions of hard-working people. To be sure, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates are richer than Croesus, but so what? All they can do is give it away. | • In a message to Davos, Mark Goldring, Oxfam GB’s chief executive, claims inequality of wealth is a symptom of a system that is failing millions of hard-working people. To be sure, Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates are richer than Croesus, but so what? All they can do is give it away. |
| Since Oxfam was founded in 1942, world population has increased from 2.4 billion to 7.5 billion, yet many more people have became prosperous than have became poor. Just look at the big picture: in 1950 three-quarters of the world were living in extreme poverty (ie, on less than $2 a day), in 1981 it was 44%, last year it fell below 10%. On average, the number of people in extreme poverty fell by 130,000 every single day since 1990. Now, that would make a good headline.Dr John DohertyVienna, Austria | Since Oxfam was founded in 1942, world population has increased from 2.4 billion to 7.5 billion, yet many more people have became prosperous than have became poor. Just look at the big picture: in 1950 three-quarters of the world were living in extreme poverty (ie, on less than $2 a day), in 1981 it was 44%, last year it fell below 10%. On average, the number of people in extreme poverty fell by 130,000 every single day since 1990. Now, that would make a good headline.Dr John DohertyVienna, Austria |
| • Your excellent leader (The cost of public squalor in Britain is spelled out in national statistics, 26 January) speaks a truth to the Osborne-Hammond and Cameron-May Conservative wrecking ball taken to the welfare state. Thank goodness for this clarity in explaining what has befallen our public services in the last seven years. | • Your excellent leader (The cost of public squalor in Britain is spelled out in national statistics, 26 January) speaks a truth to the Osborne-Hammond and Cameron-May Conservative wrecking ball taken to the welfare state. Thank goodness for this clarity in explaining what has befallen our public services in the last seven years. |
| But the assertion that higher taxes are needed overlooks the callous way in which a disproportionate burden of the cost of the financial crash has been applied to those least culpable and least able to pay. It is the distribution of taxes that needs to be fairer, with those most fortunate contributing more. | But the assertion that higher taxes are needed overlooks the callous way in which a disproportionate burden of the cost of the financial crash has been applied to those least culpable and least able to pay. It is the distribution of taxes that needs to be fairer, with those most fortunate contributing more. |
| I didn’t think that after Lehman Brothers’ collapse it would be the poorest still being asked to dig yet deeper to pay for the sins of those whose lives have moved on, with not an inkling for what it really means to be at the swingeing mercy of Thatcher-plus ideologues.Nick MayerSouthampton | I didn’t think that after Lehman Brothers’ collapse it would be the poorest still being asked to dig yet deeper to pay for the sins of those whose lives have moved on, with not an inkling for what it really means to be at the swingeing mercy of Thatcher-plus ideologues.Nick MayerSouthampton |
| • I read your thoughtful leader with interest. Coming from a traditional Tory middle-class background, I first went to Sweden in 1957 and lived in Gothenburg from 1960 to 1962. I still remember how impressed I was by a country that had been governed uninterruptedly by the Social Democrats since before the war and had achieved such a prosperous and equal society unimaginable in the Great Britain of the time and, tellingly, since. Admittedly, the high taxation culture was quite a shock but one only had to look around to witness the high standard of living and the contentment and sense of wellbeing enjoyed by all its citizens to know that Sweden was setting an example to the world. Ask Polly Toynbee!Richard GriffithsSyderstone, Norfolk | • I read your thoughtful leader with interest. Coming from a traditional Tory middle-class background, I first went to Sweden in 1957 and lived in Gothenburg from 1960 to 1962. I still remember how impressed I was by a country that had been governed uninterruptedly by the Social Democrats since before the war and had achieved such a prosperous and equal society unimaginable in the Great Britain of the time and, tellingly, since. Admittedly, the high taxation culture was quite a shock but one only had to look around to witness the high standard of living and the contentment and sense of wellbeing enjoyed by all its citizens to know that Sweden was setting an example to the world. Ask Polly Toynbee!Richard GriffithsSyderstone, Norfolk |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
| Inequality | Inequality |
| Tax and spending | Tax and spending |
| Welfare | Welfare |
| Poverty | Poverty |
| Tax | Tax |
| Oxfam | Oxfam |
| letters | letters |
| Share on Facebook | Share on Facebook |
| Share on Twitter | Share on Twitter |
| Share via Email | Share via Email |
| Share on LinkedIn | Share on LinkedIn |
| Share on Pinterest | Share on Pinterest |
| Share on Google+ | Share on Google+ |
| Share on WhatsApp | Share on WhatsApp |
| Share on Messenger | Share on Messenger |
| Reuse this content | Reuse this content |