We peace activists need to care about the damage done to our society and our democracy, and therefore to the world, by inequality of the extreme sort described in this book: www.inequality.org
(A book which, however, says not one word about opposing war.)
If we are going to ask poor people to oppose war, the least we can do is find the time to oppose poverty.
Twenty percent of Americans own 84 percent of the wealth in this country. Our country is far more unequal than any other developed nation. And it has become far less frequent for anyone born poor in America to die rich. This is not a democracy. Look at the length of the lines at polling places in poor neighborhoods where people do not have time to vote anyway. This is not a democracy.
And without a democracy, you have war. Every time.
You also have domestic violence. Violence increases with inequality. Reducing inequality reduces crime, and for far less expense than that of housing prisoners. This is widely known and virtually undisputed, but not acted upon.
And it is by housing prisoners that we train guards to torture Iraqis.
Inequality and war are twin plagues, and we need to rid ourselves of both, or we will continue to be afflicted with both.
There are organizations, like Progressive Democrats of America and United for Peace and Justice, that work for both peace and equality. The march in March from Mobile to New Orleans will unite anti-war activists with victims of Bush-and-Katrina.
But, on the whole, anti-poverty activists and anti-war activists live in two separate worlds. That needs to end.
(A book which, however, says not one word about opposing war.)
If we are going to ask poor people to oppose war, the least we can do is find the time to oppose poverty.
Twenty percent of Americans own 84 percent of the wealth in this country. Our country is far more unequal than any other developed nation. And it has become far less frequent for anyone born poor in America to die rich. This is not a democracy. Look at the length of the lines at polling places in poor neighborhoods where people do not have time to vote anyway. This is not a democracy.
You also have domestic violence. Violence increases with inequality. Reducing inequality reduces crime, and for far less expense than that of housing prisoners. This is widely known and virtually undisputed, but not acted upon.
And it is by housing prisoners that we train guards to torture Iraqis.
Inequality and war are twin plagues, and we need to rid ourselves of both, or we will continue to be afflicted with both.
There are organizations, like Progressive Democrats of America and United for Peace and Justice, that work for both peace and equality. The march in March from Mobile to New Orleans will unite anti-war activists with victims of Bush-and-Katrina.
But, on the whole, anti-poverty activists and anti-war activists live in two separate worlds. That needs to end.
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