Poverty: a worldwide form of injustice

As Bill Gates’ estimated wealth has reached the unimaginable mark of $100 billion, and other billionaires are being created daily, the problem of inequality is becoming more and more visible. But, lulled into the commonly stated maxim that “a rising tide lifts all boats”, we may assume that the rest of us are, or will be, benefitted by this general prosperity. It comes as a shock, therefore, to realize that even in the USA the income level of the lower echelons of society are actually declining. For the less developed countries the burden is even greater, with average income falling throughout much of Africa and in other areas as well. The move toward globalization, far from mitigating the problem, is actually adding to the disparities between rich and poor worldwide, while even the rich do not seem to be happier as a result of their wealth.