Living With Inequality

Orwell raises a good point with inequality, in that one needs a frame of reference in order to understand that one's being oppressed in the first place. After watching Hunger Games, it also reminds me of how we live with gross inequality on a daily basis while being conditioned not to think overly much of it. Consider the fact that I am typing this on a rather high end machine that may be well over the annual income of another person out there. The inequality is right here before me, and before the one who happens to read this entry.

For those in richer urban environs, it is the sheer normalcy of everyday life that blinds us all to the struggles of others. For the desperately poor, the "normalcy" of everyday urban life is so far out of reach that the frame of reference cannot even exist. The other problems would be indoctrination, where each person is basically taught to accept ones' lot in life and by extension not seriously consider that of others. It blinds people as surely as Big Brothers' propaganda.

One of my friends commented that wow...in the Hunger Games, the rich folk of the higher districts live such ostentatiously rich lives in comparison to the drab poverty of the lower districts. I pointed out hey...that's precisely the life we're living, except we're the ones on top. It is indeed food for thought. For me, where there is an increase in wealth, the distribution should be as equitable as possible. This does not mean giving away what one rightfully earned, but to provide everyone equal opportunities to earn their own keep.