"Those with extreme wealth have often accumulated their fortunes on the backs of people around the world who work for poor wages and under dangerous conditions."
I've long been fascinated by how money and ownership are completely artificial constructs, which owe their existence completely to the belief and cooperation of virtually all the people on the globe.
At least potentially, all that has to happen for wealth redistribution (or the breakdown of the system) to happen is for enough people to stop participating in the system.
Lots of bits in a digital bank account or pieces of paper don't do any good when people stop deeming them to be valuable. One's "ownership" of land or property also evaporates the minute enough people stop recognizing it.
Yet despite all this, the people who are most disadvantaged by the system of money, property, and ownership -- the ones who are essential for its smooth functioning -- for the most part continue to participate in and believe in it.
I've long been fascinated by how money and ownership are completely artificial constructs, which owe their existence completely to the belief and cooperation of virtually all the people on the globe.
At least potentially, all that has to happen for wealth redistribution (or the breakdown of the system) to happen is for enough people to stop participating in the system.
Lots of bits in a digital bank account or pieces of paper don't do any good when people stop deeming them to be valuable. One's "ownership" of land or property also evaporates the minute enough people stop recognizing it.
Yet despite all this, the people who are most disadvantaged by the system of money, property, and ownership -- the ones who are essential for its smooth functioning -- for the most part continue to participate in and believe in it.