It is possible to be both wealthy and poor at the same time: A memoir of inherited public wealth, and sadness
Not one of us can claim that we build the internet one line of code at a time. I certainly didn't lay each piece of pavement that allows me to walk freely from one store to another, or drive from one country to the next.
This glorious asphalt and concrete that may have a complex carbon history, at least has a significant and fantastic utility for us. I use it every day!
Toilet Paper! Or a bidet even! Did you invent it? Do you make it or produce it? Is it something you designed or patented? If so, you've deserved the dollars I've spent.
This to say, I may have paid for some of my inherited privileges with cash, but for the most part, the utility I've gained from inherited value is beyond my comprehensive capacity. People have created more than I can imagine through efforts much longer than my lifetime. Aggregation of time means that no single person could ever accomplish what the entire hive of human kind can. It leads to a concerning trend relating to boundaries and our need to push for more even when we already have enough.
Planned Obsolescence is a term in the industry relating to the concept that some economic cycles are predicated on products that expire, go bad, or otherwise become obsolete (like the iPhones, iPads, and iPods out there that aren't supported anymore). While upgrades in technology had a lot to do with it, these upgrades were planned for. It's part of the business strategy and it is also imperative for the future of any business.
Here we see that the curve of technology is steep. Staying on the cutting edge is expensive. But oftentimes, for any given user to get by, we don't need to be on the cutting edge. For the purposes of this article, the concept of sustainability is about making the best out of what already exists to minimize waste and to reduce unnecessary costs.
Photo by Pixabay: https://www.pexels.com/photo/copper-colored-coin-lot-259165/
The overall cost of sustainability is weighed against what is already available.
Generally speaking, we already have what we need and now the greatest need is to distribute it equitably for the purposes of social welfare and sustainability.
At this point in history, the distribution of important social inherited wealth isn't predicated on financial riches, but is often based on social attention and data. The goal of this post is to bring attention to the question, “how can social inherited wealth be more equitably given to poorer communities, where access doesn't always equate to usage?”.
Just because there is pure water available in Los Angeles doesn't mean everyone gets it there. The homelessness crisis is out of control, and government spending on the problem is out of control due to inflation and an array of other issues. Its not just about where and what to build for people, but who gets access, how long they can stay there, and what amenities they're given.
There may be enough food or cropland available, but not everyone lives close enough to access fresh food or has the ability to start farming. The Earth is tumultuous and ever-changing beneath our feet. Our countries have populations that are struggling because of our emissions and over consumption of products that don't promote equity. But you can still buy almost anything on Amazon if you live at an address they deliver to. This is unfair and unequal distribution of social equity when there are billions of people living without basic necessities.
The question remains the same, how can we equally distribute essential social resources? It shouldn't cost a billion dollars for barely 1,000 tiny homes, no matter how lavish.
Thanks for reading,
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