Warning and apologies: Threadjack!
@paulc, do you have any references you can cite to back up your statement: “Just don’t forget that wealth creates vacuums. For there to be extremely wealthy people or nations there must exist extremely poor ones.”
Because, you see, I happen to think that the economics of wealth is not a zero sum game.
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The Economist documents the tremendous world-wide improvement in both social conditions in poor countries and the alleviation of poverty: Between 1999 and 2004, some 135 million people emerged from destitution, and there are now twice as many countries with fast-growing economies as there were in 1980.
- excerpted from Imprimus
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It’s more correct to say that a rising tide lifts all boats.
And yes, of course, there are indeed those malfeasants who seek their own personal betterment at the detriment of others… but it’s not a universal truth in all arenas.