#1764 Wealth Inequality is Bad for Society and There's No Good Counterargument
Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
Inequality harms well-being and democracy
Discussion covers research linking inequality to worse mental health, lower trust, and threats to democratic institutions.
Air Date: 1/14/2026
Being a bad person who doesn't care about others is helpful in one's pursuit of becoming wealthy. However, becoming wealthy is also helpful in becoming a bad person who doesn't care about others, not that anyone sets out with this as a goal but it is a natural byproduct of wealth and the normal functioning of our market economy. What this means is that the nature of money, market dynamics, and wealth to corrode morality is a systemic problem, not a collection of individual failings, and should be addressed as such.
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KEY POINTS
KP 1: The Truth About Income Inequality No One Told You - UNFTR Media - Air Date 7-21-25
KP 4: The Capitalist Mindset - The Market Exit - Air Date 12-9-25
KP 5: How Power Corrupts Part 1 - The Art of Manliness - Air Date 4-6-22
KP 6: Where Are Americas Leaders? - Robert Reich and Inequality Media Civic Action - Air Date 1-6-26
KP 7: Why WORKERS Should OWN Companies - The Market Exit - Air Date 4-30-25
(00:48:50) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
On all the reasons we need to squash wealth inequality
DEEPER DIVES
(01:02:59) SECTION A: THE EFFECTS OF WEALTH INEQUALITY
A2: The Shocking Truth About Wealth Inequality in America - Established Context - Air Date 2-22-2025
A3: How Wealth Corrupts Democracy with Christy McGillivray - Head in the Office - Air Date 10-24-25
A4: How Power Corrupts Part 2 - The Art of Manliness - Air Date 4-6-22
A5: UK Budget - The End of Democracy? Part 1 - Garys Economics - Air Date 11-23-25
(01:42:01) SECTION B: THE MINDSET OF THE RICH & POWERFUL
B1: RESOURCE WARS and the Economics of Scarcity with Richard D Wolff - Jacobin - Air Date 9-4-24
B2: Tax Is Not Theft: Why the "It's My Money" Argument Is Wrong - Richard J Murphy - Air Date 12-18-25
B4: The Fraud Behind Our 'Thought Leaders' - The Chris Hedges YouTube Channel - Air Date 1-5-26
(02:18:09) SECTION C: TAX THE RICH
C2: UK Budget - The End of Democracy? Part 2 - Garys Economics - Air Date 11-23-25
SHOW IMAGE CREDITS
Description: A horizontally split image of two photos: on top, an extravagant yacht sailing at sunset. On bottom, an open wallet with some $1 bills inside and some coins spilling out.
Credit: Internal composite design. Images: "Wallet" and "yacht" via Pixabay | Pixabay license
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
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