BahÃĄâ•Žuâ•ŽllÃĄh and the New Era - Knowledge Rush

Economic ProblemsThe Bahá’í teachings insist in the strongest terms on the need forreform in the economic relations of rich and poor. ‘Abdu’l-Bahásays:—The arrangements of the circumstances of the people mustbe such that poverty shall disappear, that everyone, as far aspossible, according to his rank and position, shall share incomfort and well-being. We see among us men who are overburdenedwith riches on the one hand, and on the other thoseunfortunate ones who starve with nothing; those who possessseveral stately palaces, and those who have not where to laytheir head.... This condition of affairs is wrong, and must beremedied. Now the remedy must be carefully undertaken. Itcannot be done by bringing to pass absolute equality betweenmen. Equality is a chimera! It is entirely impracticable. Evenif equality could be achieved it could not continue; and if itsexistence were possible, the whole order of the world wouldbe destroyed. The Law of Order must always obtain in theworld of humanity. Heaven has so decreed in the creationof man.... Humanity, like a great army, requires a general,captains, underofficers in their degree, and soldiers, each withtheir appointed duties. Degrees are absolutely necessary toensure an orderly organization. An army could not be composedof generals alone, or of captains only, or of nothing butsoldiers without anyone in authority.Certainly, some being enormously rich and otherlamentably poor, an organization is necessary to control andimprove this state of affairs. It is important to limit riches, asit is also of importance to limit poverty. Either extreme is notgood.... When we see poverty allowed to reach a conditionof starvation, it is a sure sign that somewhere we shall findtyranny. Men must bestir themselves in this matter, and no