World's eight richest people have same wealth as poorest 50%

[Bismarck]

Poverty is a huge problem and we should work to alleviate it as much as possible. In terms of wealth disparity however, who cares? Bill Gates being a billionaire doesn't affect the living standards of other people. If the government came and took Gate's fortune it would hurt that bottom 50%, a group that Gates invests billions in helping every year.

[Bismarck]

Nice, reasonable conclusion, guys.  The answer is that capitalism has gotta go!!

It's clear that something about capitalism has gotta go. We can debate on what exactly.

I don't think anything about capitalism "Needs to go". We have a mixed economy and can debate the merits and limits of redistribution, taxation levels, and regulation, but he capitalist framework works.

[Bismarck]

Uh... am I missing something in this thread? Most of the poorest 50% of the planet are not living in first world capitalist countries, but in fake socialist economies where corruption and nepotism rule the roost. In which Western capitalist country does the average person have $118 worth of savings? Maybe we should blame the idiotic politicians in most of these countries, instead of rich people?

Also, you do realize that most of the people grouped in that top 50% have little education, because they drop out of school to work on a subsistence farm, and so have no opportunity to obtain a job they would be able to accumulate savings?

Excellent post. You are my new favorite forum dem.