The-Morality-of-Capitalism-PDF

The logic behind the resentment of the rich is flawed. If onewere resentful of the rich because one had not yet become rich,then the best strategy one could adopt would be first to overthrowthe rich, and then wait until such a time that one had oneselfbecome wealthy, after which one would advocate the protectionof the rights of the wealthy. For a certain group of individuals,this indeed would be the most rational way forward. But forsociety as a whole, there is no way to coordinate this process sothat all of the members of society could become wealthy at thesame pace. Some will become wealthy before others; if we waitfor all to become wealthy at the same rate, none will ever achievewealth. The opposition to the rich is without justification, forthe poor will only have a chance to become rich if the rights thatallow anyone—and everyone—to gain wealth are guaranteed; ifthe fruits of one’s labor are not infringed upon; and if the rightof property is respected. A society in which more and moreindividuals attain wealth and agree that “to get rich is glorious”is, in fact, something that can be built.The Chinese scholar Li Ming once wrote that dividing peopleinto two groups, “rich” and “poor,” is the wrong way to distinguishbetween the two. Rather, it should be those with rights andthose without rights. What he meant was that in modern society,the question of rich and poor is really a question of rights. Therich have gotten that way because they have rights, while thepoor don’t. What he meant by rights must be human rights, notprivileges. It cannot be the case that all citizens can have accessto privilege. Only a small minority can have access to privileges.If we want to resolve the question of the rich and the poor, weshould first establish equal human rights for all. Li Ming’s analysisis profound and thorough.54