Pt. 10 THE POOR GET POORER
A second catastrophic, systemic
problem arising from the concept of the individual is that of disparity of
wealth over the whole of humanity. As long as this concept of being separate
and individual remains in existence any legitimate possibility of true equality
will be impossible. We all require the same basic resources to survive. Sure if
someone is injured either physically or psychologically they will temporarily
require some assistance, which is analogous to needing more resources than an
otherwise healthy person. However if a person is healthy, which is to say that
he/ she is in a state of equilibrium, there is no legitimate justification for
him/ her claiming more than what could be viewed as his/ her fair share of the
commons.[i]
Conversely, if some individuals are
allowed to have more than their fair share, it follows that there will not
enough resources for others, otherwise known as the Tragedy of the Commons.[ii]
When this trend persists, those who claim more for themselves will use that
more that they already have to assume a position of power based on them having
more which will then provide them the opportunity to amass and even greater
level of inequity.[iii] Consider
the phrase “It takes money to make money.” This works both ways. If one has no
money it would seem impossible for them to make any money. On the other hand,
if one has a great deal of money that would facilitate a more rapid acquisition
of even grater wealth. Whereas if this concept of “mine, not yours” that is
intrinsic to the concept of being an individual were to be discarded, and
equity and equilibrium were to take its place the possibility of disparity of
wealth would cease to be possible. The possibility of the aforementioned equilibrium
becomes increasingly more difficult as the population expands though.
[ii] De Young, “Tragedy of the
Commons,” University of Michigan, http://www-personal.umich.edu/~rdeyoung/tragedy.html (accessed April 25,2013).
[iii] “The One Chart You Need to
Understand America’s Mind-Blowing Incom Gap,” Huffington Post, http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/15/income-distribution-visualizing-economics_n_3044892.html (accessed April 25, 2013).
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