Sunday, January 20, 2008

THE OBSCENITY OF CAPITALISM

The columnist Richard Morrison in an article mocking the ridiculous prices paid for modern art, refers to Don Thompson's book The $12 Million Stuffed Shark and brings to notice the obscene wealth enjoyed by a handful of billionaires. Remember we are dealing with the social system of capitalism where millions exist on a $1 a day. "He looks at the buyers for "trophy" art; billionaires such as the American asset manager Steve Cohen, who bought the shark with what, for him, was loose change (it would have taken him five days, Thompson estimates, to have earned the $12 million price tag). (Times, 16 January)
Overlooking the term "earned", we are talking about someone whose income is over 2 million times that of another. Doesn't capitalism make you sick? RD

No comments: