Growing the middle class is the key to stability and prosperity
This letter may seem contentious but it is supported by centuries of evidence.
George Bernard Shaw said, “To live for others and not for myself, that’s middle-class morality”.
Aristotle said that the most perfect political community is one in which the middle class is in control, and outnumbers both of the other classes. Thus, society must limit poverty and uplift the poor into the middle class. Without this ability to escape poverty, society as a collective will ultimately suffer.
Overall, the poor add limited value to the overall development of society. They do not contribute towards the rate or tax needs of society and require the most from the budget in terms of education and health care, housing and social welfare etc. Over the past few decades the China government uplifted more than 400 million into the middle class. In an environment where corruption and criminality is harshly punished and people behave responsibly, social mobility is easily achievable.
Why should the wealthy not lead society?
Often, to attain wealth, a hostile personality is required. Study the full history of the wealthy and witness how they gathered wealth. Often the history is hidden or you will find a questionable past.
Example, many newbie multi-millionaires who gained from democracy has deep political links which they use this to attain wealth. What happened to “an injury to one is an injury to all” or “the doors of learning shall be opened” or “the people shall govern and share in the wealth of the nation”.
Rarely do black or brown former politicians or their associates that are now multi-millionaires criticize the interest rate of the Reserve Bank or the cost of electricity or absurd student fees.
As long as the wealthy are insulated from crime and grime and their political links allow feeding at the trough, they will not speak out against the suffering experienced by the ordinary rates/taxpayer.
The wealthy “black and brown” like the white colleagues have sold-out regular people. This is a reason why Aristotle said that the burden of governance must fall primarily on the middle class.
Example, across the Cape Flats children are murdered regularly by indiscriminate gunfire. The killings are reported in the tabloids. When a wealthy person is killed it is reported in the mainstream media.
The middle class represents the values and consciousness that is best suited for governance. The middle class must as a collective protect society from the unlimited demands of the irresponsible behaviour of the poor classes and from the corruption and selfish-greed of the wealthy classes.
Cllr Yagyah Adams
Cape Muslim Congress