[Buddha-l] Re: "So much for tsunami dana"

[curt]

I think your argument only holds if the initial disparity between rich 
and poor is less than 10:1 to start with (and, in fact, the actual 
disparity is more like 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000:1 - give or 
take). And even that makes assumptions about where the money is coming 
from - but I was assuming that all of the money would be coming from the 
rich Capitalist fat-cats. If they get 90% of their $$$ "back" then we've 
have still managed to take some of it - which is a start. I admit that I 
personally prefer a more rapid redistribution of the wealth - is that 
what you are proposing? If so, count me in.  I was primarily putting 
forth that hypothetical in an effort to argue that its better to "waste" 
money on programs that actually do some good than it is to "save" money 
by not doing anything. In the US we have been "saving" a lot of $$$ over 
the last 30 years or so by "wasting" less of our $$$ on education, 
health-care for poor children, dyke maintenance in New Orleans - stuff 
like that. We've "saved" a bundle, by the way!!! But somehow we have 
still managed to be something like $1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 in the 
hole. How the heck did that happen?
- Curt

Benito Carral wrote:

>On Wednesday, October 12, 2005, Curt wrote:
>
>  
>
>>If  that  money  were  instead  spent on wasteful aid
>>programs  in which only 1/10 of the money went to the
>>people  who  needed  it,  that  would  still  be $100
>>billion  a  year going to people who desparately need
>>it.  [...]Throwing  money  at problems is better than
>>thowing bombs and guns at them.
>>    
>>
>
>   I  don't  agree  with  this argument at all, I think
>that it is wishful thinking at best.
>
>   If of $100 billion $90 billion go to a rich minority
>and  $10  billion  go  to a poor majority, would not it
>increase  the  breach  between  poor  and rich people?,
>would  not  it  empower  the  oligarchy  that keeps the
>breach growing?
>
>   Best wishes,
>
>   Beni
>
>
>
>
>
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