3 ms·

well, even if it didn't, the increasing wealth leads to increased use of resources, as people will spend it on things, long distance flights etc.

dmix 9y ago
Increased wealth comes from an increase production of value in the world. It is not a one-way street, one gains wealth by contributing to society. A single person's work can provide jobs for thousands. It can increase the production of food/housing/etc which helps millions of people. Or reduce millions of hours used in one area to free up human capital to focus on other areas, etc, etc. It's entirely possible for individuals in society to contribute far far more than they consume and set up systems which helps future generation contribute far more and at a faster rate than previously possible (ie, via investment in education, economic support systems, access to capital/banking, etc). There's no reason why increased individual consumption can't be sustainable or a ultimately net gain in society despite their increased individual consumption (by their own productivity, contribution to taxes, economic contributions, social work via charity, etc). This is what is so often overlooked in people's efforts to blame 'wealth accumulation' as the underlying problem, as if it only benefits that one person. Resulting in policies trying to reduce "wealth inequality" that ultimately end up hurting everyone (including the poor) in a 'noble, well intention' effort to punish the rich. The government and volunteer groups are the primary bodies that needs to address and coordinate many of those social and economic issues. The biggest problem with India is that: a) the taxes/government organizations are wasted and terribly corrupt which hurt both economic growth for the middle class and small business [1], where only the powerful/connected are allowed to operate in an efficient business environment and social policies make little progress b) countless individuals exploiting this corruption and contributing nothing to society (ie, rewarding people despite not contributing any value to the economy) by leeching off these public institutions either by getting friends in gov to do their bidding or more directly skimming off public funds c) big longterm social issues can't be addressed with an ineffective government, a private/non-profit industry constrained by endless bureaucracy and top-down political influence, a healthy middle class and safety net (where the majority of the population can't live a sustainable lifestyle out of pure necessity to eat/live). d) the smartest people needed to lead those non-profits and government agencies all leave to North America and Europe - driven away by the government incompetence, leaving many mediocre B-players in leadership positions within India, further contributing to government failure - an evil cycle. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVwIZzGHxwc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVwIZzGHxwc

dmix 9y ago

Increased wealth comes from an increase production of value in the world. It is not a one-way street, one gains wealth by contributing to society. A single person's work can provide jobs for thousands. It can increase the production of food/housing/etc which helps millions of people. Or reduce millions of hours used in one area to free up human capital to focus on other areas, etc, etc. It's entirely possible for individuals in society to contribute far far more than they consume and set up systems which helps future generation contribute far more and at a faster rate than previously possible (ie, via investment in education, economic support systems, access to capital/banking, etc). There's no reason why increased individual consumption can't be sustainable or a ultimately net gain in society despite their increased individual consumption (by their own productivity, contribution to taxes, economic contributions, social work via charity, etc). This is what is so often overlooked in people's efforts to blame 'wealth accumulation' as the underlying problem, as if it only benefits that one person. Resulting in policies trying to reduce "wealth inequality" that ultimately end up hurting everyone (including the poor) in a 'noble, well intention' effort to punish the rich. The government and volunteer groups are the primary bodies that needs to address and coordinate many of those social and economic issues. The biggest problem with India is that: a) the taxes/government organizations are wasted and terribly corrupt which hurt both economic growth for the middle class and small business [1], where only the powerful/connected are allowed to operate in an efficient business environment and social policies make little progress b) countless individuals exploiting this corruption and contributing nothing to society (ie, rewarding people despite not contributing any value to the economy) by leeching off these public institutions either by getting friends in gov to do their bidding or more directly skimming off public funds c) big longterm social issues can't be addressed with an ineffective government, a private/non-profit industry constrained by endless bureaucracy and top-down political influence, a healthy middle class and safety net (where the majority of the population can't live a sustainable lifestyle out of pure necessity to eat/live). d) the smartest people needed to lead those non-profits and government agencies all leave to North America and Europe - driven away by the government incompetence, leaving many mediocre B-players in leadership positions within India, further contributing to government failure - an evil cycle. [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVwIZzGHxwc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hVwIZzGHxwc