tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8842351178829758368.post7518190803080069481..comments2022-03-16T00:54:25.243-07:00Comments on Arthur's Peace: Why aren't we more outraged by the missing Nigerian schoolgirls?Arthur Palmerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12301486680730591997noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8842351178829758368.post-60740045155044691172014-06-04T17:49:00.305-07:002014-06-04T17:49:00.305-07:00As westerners we should be able to provide signifi...As westerners we should be able to provide significant assistance to developing societies, but this is simply not happening. The nature of aid is a separate topic, but it is instructive to note a couple of points. One is that a large part of the western populations, while having two income earners per household, are still struggling to pay all the bills on time. Where has the wealth gone that was promised by the increasing efficiency of modern technology? Why are we not working 20 hour weeks, etc, and better able, perhaps via taxation, to contribute to the advancement of others.<br />Which leads to the second point - money that is available is directed towards consumer products and expensive personal services, perhaps to help relieve the stress of long working weeks, but largely in response to media-induced desires. Once again, where does all this wealth end up? Hedge funds, perhaps? Can we blame multi-nationals when they are responding to shareholder demands for profit? <br />People no doubt feel insecure about their retirement and so will save for themselves, but it has been noted that, under capitalism, wealth accumulates across generations, so perhaps there is an argument for the imposition of death duties, like those that destroyed the stranglehold of the British aristocracy.<br />Quelle horreur! Sorry to get off the topic. I see the underlying issue as one of disparity, which system requires certain levels of violent oppression to maintain, from which stems the range of violent behaviours we witness, as in the case above, and which we ascribe to religion, race, class, nationalism, to anything not linked to our own involvement. MSAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com