"Money is the root of all evil." At least that is what I was taught as a child. I remember seeing a plaque saying that on the wall in my Grandmother's house. But I disagree, or at least would like to revise that statement. When money is put towards the right things, it can do a lot of good.
Take for example, when countries and companies invest in environmentally responsible policies like renewable energy sources, recycling or reducing the use of our resources or cutting carbon emissions, its a good thing for all of us.
Another example is when countries have a policies that encourage a more equitable distribution of the wealth. In 2006 Richard Wilkinson published a book called Why Inequality Matters in which he documents how Costa Rica, with an average income, per-capita income, of around $5000, were at $44,000 in the United States, has better infant mortality, longer life expectancy, higher levels of trust among people, lower levels of homicide, lower levels of crime, virtually all indicators of quality of life are better in that country than they are here in the United States, which is amazing because inequality apparently isnt as great. In his book, Wilkinson compares the level of wealth of the top 20% richest and bottom 20% poorest in several countries and found that those countries with the smallest chasm dividing the richest from the poorest have the best quality of life. Countries like Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark etc. While those countries like the U.S., Russia, many Arab and Southeast Asian countries that have the greatest gap between the richest and the poorest 20% have the Highest levels of crime, suicide, drug abuse, domestic violence, bankruptcies, and the lowest quality of life.
Before Ronald Reagan took Office the tax rate on the wealthiest was around 75% with fewer loopholes and in 1974 there was the greatest level of income for everyone compared to cost of living. After George W. Bush, the tax rate on the wealthiest Americans is around 19% with 1 in 5 of the top 500 biggest corporations paying no taxes at all. The U.s. has gone from #1 in quality of life among nations to #14. and 5% of the wealthiest Americans HOLD 95% of the wealth. Wealth that could be building schools, bridges and roads and keeping Americans healthy and revitalizing our economy. When you hear someone talk about the redistribution of wealth from the rich to the poor, consider the redistribution of wealth from the poor and the middle class to the rich is the greatest transfer of wealth this planet has ever seen. No, Money is not the root of all evil, GREED is.
Take for example, when countries and companies invest in environmentally responsible policies like renewable energy sources, recycling or reducing the use of our resources or cutting carbon emissions, its a good thing for all of us.
Another example is when countries have a policies that encourage a more equitable distribution of the wealth. In 2006 Richard Wilkinson published a book called Why Inequality Matters in which he documents how Costa Rica, with an average income, per-capita income, of around $5000, were at $44,000 in the United States, has better infant mortality, longer life expectancy, higher levels of trust among people, lower levels of homicide, lower levels of crime, virtually all indicators of quality of life are better in that country than they are here in the United States, which is amazing because inequality apparently isnt as great. In his book, Wilkinson compares the level of wealth of the top 20% richest and bottom 20% poorest in several countries and found that those countries with the smallest chasm dividing the richest from the poorest have the best quality of life. Countries like Japan, Germany, Switzerland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark etc. While those countries like the U.S., Russia, many Arab and Southeast Asian countries that have the greatest gap between the richest and the poorest 20% have the Highest levels of crime, suicide, drug abuse, domestic violence, bankruptcies, and the lowest quality of life.
Before Ronald Reagan took Office the tax rate on the wealthiest was around 75% with fewer loopholes and in 1974 there was the greatest level of income for everyone compared to cost of living. After George W. Bush, the tax rate on the wealthiest Americans is around 19% with 1 in 5 of the top 500 biggest corporations paying no taxes at all. The U.s. has gone from #1 in quality of life among nations to #14. and 5% of the wealthiest Americans HOLD 95% of the wealth. Wealth that could be building schools, bridges and roads and keeping Americans healthy and revitalizing our economy. When you hear someone talk about the redistribution of wealth from the rich to the poor, consider the redistribution of wealth from the poor and the middle class to the rich is the greatest transfer of wealth this planet has ever seen. No, Money is not the root of all evil, GREED is.
It's funny how American's look at us Canadian's and think that because we have social programs, like Medicare, we're somehow inferior to the American way of life, or worse yet, just like Communists.