Mind's Eye Re: the rich are mean

When survival is "on the line" is where one's morality is truly
tested.

I have no problem recognizing exploitation which has been universal in
all systems. America, lacking an aristocracy, created one- actually
more than one- and whether the basis is true or false, they have
become role models for society- a society which includes the poor.

On Apr 15, 8:35 am, Æzen <ae...@msn.com> wrote:
> On Tuesday, 6 March 2012 11:16:25 UTC, rigsy03 wrote:
>
> > That is a piffy generalization- the wealthy have built and contributed
> > much to society. A popular character type in literature- and life- is
> > the peasant who would sell his mother if given the chance. Don't
> > romanticize the poor with virtues they do not possess.
>
> No matter the 'good' that the rich have contributed, they contribute
> considerably more to the poverty of the poor who then find themselves in a
> position where they might feel the need to sell their mothers if it meant
> they could survive another day. There is no place for morality when your
> survival is on the line. Yet neither is morality much of a concern if
> you're free to act as you please because your wealth, influence and social
> status allow you the privilege to intervene in the affairs of the law and
> twist them to your own advantage. - Granted that is someone a cynical
> perspective, yet it is not, I think, without some merit worthy of
> consideration.
>
> The wealthy have contributed mostly towards their own preservation of
> wealth. Installing power structures and economic systems that perpetuate
> their influence and affluence whilst contributing far less to solving the
> problems of the poor than they would rather we believe. The wealthy, for
> the most part, are not interested in equality or seeing themselves as being
> obligated towards the rest of society. They are interested in maintaining
> their wealth and opportunities, and in so doing, whether directly or
> indirectly, whether knowingly or unknowingly, stifling the wealth and
> opportunities of others.
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Mar 5, 4:56 pm, archytas <nwte...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > Dr. Paul Piff has done a number of reasonably scientific experiments
> > > that demonstrate the wealthy are less inclined to give in experimental
> > > settings.  You can find a review here -
> >http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-upper-class-people.html
> > > .
>
> > > I've been exploring some dire financial deals of late and corruption
> > > in academic circles that eventually pan out in local genocides in
> > > Africa.  One of the most unethical creeps I worked with was a
> > > professor of business ethics, but other ethical professionals like
> > > lawyers often have none.  This link gives the gist -
> >http://www.nakedcapitalism.com/2012/03/on-the-continuing-oxymoron-of-...
> > > .
>
> > > My view for years has been we need to apply the criminal law and
> > > police investigation to economics and I think there is little clever
> > > about money-grubbing, just a set of myths justifying it.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -