Coming closer to home, another report has shown that the 5 richest families in Britain have more wealth than 20% of the population (12.6 million Brits). That 20% has an average wealth of just £2,230 each. What is more, the gap between rich and poor is getting wider.
The communist doctrine of equality of wealth is not one that we follow; we live in a capitalist society where, ideally, there are opportunities for everyone. Looking at the 5 richest families in Britain, 2 have inherited great wealth (the Duke of Westminster and the Cadogan family), but the other 3 (David and Simon Reuben, the Hinduja brothers and Mike Ashley, founder of Sports Direct) have become rich. They've made their wealth by trading, and any one of us could have been in their position.
What does the above mean to the 'average' person? Is it of any significance? Do you wish that you were one of the fortunate few, or do you believe it's disgraceful that a handful of people control so much wealth? Do you care that there are poorer people than you? These are questions that we probably don't ask ourselves, but perhaps we should.
There's a saying that 'money means power' and the rich in the world would probably agree with that. Having money enables an individual to do so much more than someone who hasn't, that can't be denied. However, it's also been said by some rich people that they don't have time to enjoy their money. Yes, they may have the trappings of wealth, but they are not truly fulfilled. So there are both advantages and disadvantages to being rich.
It's beneficial when the wealthy are successful in business and create employment; it's good for the country and necessary for the economy. Businesses must make a profit to survive and we need entrepreneurs. Profit is a driving force and we should applaud successful companies. The recent economic crisis has shown what happens to inefficient businesses, they fail. Thankfully, the efficient are now stronger because of good leadership.
How does this affect the man in the street? Working or not, his primary aim is to have enough money to live; then comes the desire to spend on optional extras or to save. Happiness can be achieved without having a fortune and some people would be afraid of too much money. But there will always be a minority who think outside the box, or see an opportunity when others fail to, and make a fortune following their goal. In a free society, they are recognised as successful.
An anomaly seems to occur lower down the scale. Ordinary working people may strive to earn a living and yet be overwhelmed by everyday costs. An interesting statistic reveals that, in Britain, there are more working households in poverty than non-working, suggesting that the benefits system needs to be overhauled. Why should the unemployed, whatever their circumstances, be better off than those working and paying tax?
Whether rich or poor, we all have decisions to make, and we need to live together in a peaceful society, but it's doubtful that we'll ever all feel equal. However, as one person stated simply to me, whether you're rich or whether you're poor you can't avoid dying, and that is a great equaliser.