I'm not arguing that it's a good, just or right thing.. Only that it is. (this is not an argument for or against the status quo, only a statement of my interpre

I'm not arguing that it's a good, just or right thing.. Only that it is. (this is not an argument for or against the status quo, only a statement of my interpretation of it) I'm also not suggesting any course of action (including inaction). I'm just saying that the way things are currently set up, it looks like rich countries are rich, but in fact, they're only rich in difference of wealth, that is, they're only able to sustain their high standards of living by the fact that other countries are substantially worse off, and so will provide them with goods and services at rates far lower than they themselves would be able or willing to work for. To be purely rich, a country would be able to maintain such standard of living entirely from using its own goods and services, which is rarely the case.. Except for the ultra-wealthy, most people in "rich" countries cannot actually afford to exclusively consume the goods and services produced by their peers.