I believe “Eat the Rich” is a mere antique trope propagated to highlight the urgent need for action regarding the third member of the triumvirate of government’s traditional role, i.e:
3/ )To Promote Equality (the others are
1) Provide security 2) Provide public goods). 1/
Promoting Equality (for the purpose of social cohesion) has become a very important role of government and indeed an imperative in the last and present century since the introduction of technology greatly accelerated progress and at the same time reinforced inequalities.
2/
Regarding your essay on Karl Marx and Adam Smith, the essential difference between their philosophies hung on whether to accord capital or labor a greater of parity of esteem (supremacy) in the determination of value (Capital vs Labor theory of value).
3/
The primacy accorded capital and property and profits over labor and opportunity raises some fundamental questions for the survival of the human race. 4/
Whilst the capitalism of Smith had occasioned the collapse of older social hierarchies, and the decline of hand-me-down privilege and introduced a meritocratic order, it had also brought about a new order.
5/
A new system of hierarchy founded on the dichotomy between capital and labor that empowered and constituted a new ruling class which “monopolizes valuable things.” 6/
Many intellectuals and scholars have examined the dynamics of this new system of hierarchy and the attendant question of inequality it engenders. 7/
Bill Emmont (The Fate of the West..) avers that the moneyed elite “are the true sources of the sense of inequality that is currently threatening the openness that has enabled the West to progress.” 8/
Economic inequality (brought about by monopolies, anti-trust, and other machinations of the super wealthy) spawn political inequality by the disproportionate control of access to political power to dictate or manipulate the rules of the game and the shaping of public policy 9/
..and thus distorting the political process.
Control over the levers of information- the media- provides the opportunity to manipulate public opinion. 10/
Jeremy Waldron (One Another’s Equals: The Basis of Human Equality) attempts to unravel the skeins of this very difficult proposition by highlighting the concept of “moral equality.”
That which is left behind when merit is set aside. 11/
This is the imperative that people are regarded and treated as equals regardless of the degree of intellectual, physical or material disparity. Wide disparities in wealth and income may erode this moral imperative because it makes it difficult to make the mental leap required 12/
For example, the poor may seem so different from the privileged that they cannot understand a moral principle that assigns equal value to the lives of a human being as such. 13/
Pankaj Mishra (Age of Anger: A History of the Present) delivers a sharp warning about the dangers of inequality to wit: “an existential resentment of other people’s being, caused by an intense mix of envy and a sense of humiliation and powerlessness, ressentiment, 14/
...as it lingers and deepens, poisons civil society and undermines political liberty..” 15/
Two centuries before these intellectuals, Rousseau had warned that an untrammeled meritocratic system (as represented by the free market) will create social dislocations by breeding a dangerous sentiment of envy, resentment and anger.”
A “craving for blind revenge.” 16/
He also wrote “A Discourse on Inequality” positing that it is “contrary to the laws of nature, however it may be defined, for a handful of people to gorge themselves on superfluities while the starving masses lack necessities.” 17/
Our World, our stark reality:
-In 2013 the world’s 85 wealthiest individuals had a net worth equal to that of our planet’s 3.5 billion poorest people. In January 2014 the figure went down to 80.
-In 2012, Coke used more water than close to a quarter of the world’s population. 18/
-Since 1751, a mere 90 corporations, primarily oil and coal companies have generated 2/3rd of the world’s CO2 emissions. 19/
Indeed, the “perpetual and restless desire for power after power, that ceaseth only in death” (Hobbes) reveals “something human and frightening.”
Individuals opposed to measures that promote equality merely want to live outside of society under the ethic of Solipsism.. 20/
..and crass individualism which only requires them to stand aloof, to be be indifferent, egotistic, avaricious, culturally ascetic, cold and cerebral. 21/
In doing so, they traverse a world in which their moral intentions are tinged with egoism and superiority and their regard for their fellows veiled by social ranking.
Their moral obscurity presents a vision of the world as a grim and fallen place. 22/
When governments take no active interest in promoting equality (by rules that balance competition and access to social goods) it yields for all an Apollonian and Dionysian contrast: orgiastic splendor for the few and dispossession, penury and affliction for the vast majority. 23/
Where does it all end?
Lost human civilizations have taught us that no matter how much the few may strive to uplift and separate themselves, they will be pulled down inevitably by the sheer weight of the mob. 24/
Our survival as a species demands that we must act to support a larger edifice. Everyone is responsible for everything before everybody. In the premise, every rich, wealthy or successful person has a responsibility to seek a fair and equitable world. 25/
We must therefore pay attention to the cry of “eat the rich” because the whole of human civilization is a history of eating the rich.
We must learn from history

The obverse of this coin is a Nigerian society where successful people live in self made prisons 26/
*a greater parity of

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More from @ChifeDr

29 Apr
IT’S TIME TO RETUCTURE AND GO REGIONAL
(Thread)

“This is the time for the country to start talking about going back to regional government and slashing all the costs of a federal system which it clearly cannot afford.” 1/
“A country with a developmental agenda cannot go anywhere with over 500 federal MDAs, 36 state governments, 36 state houses of assembly and a unrepresentative national assembly all financed by crude oil money.”(FN) 2/
I believe the above viewpoint (which now ought to be the prevailing sentiment in the country) represents the best opportunity out of Nigeria’s current difficulties. What makes it so? It’s simple. The country is broke and the prospects for recovery are not fair. 3/
Read 13 tweets
6 Apr
Dear young Nigerian men:
(Thread)
Your marriage is not your grandpa’s marriage. The woman you married is your equal. All that hard man talk and that other sh*t, that’s just boys-will-be-boys crudity. You’re now a man. Put it all behind you. Prove your machismo where it matters
1/
Cultivate a friendship and lasting bond with your spouse..and children. Get to know them (one advantage with the wife you’ll become a beneficiary of a secret sororal solidarity network which perks include juicy gossip- even Madiba was in on this, don’t play yourself).
2/
If you don’t have help in your home, assign yourself house chores (Living in America mine was a handy man and dish washer - you’ll find it relaxing). Must own a toolbox. The good news is that you can still go out and tell the boys how you’re the boss at home. She won’t tell.
3/
Read 5 tweets
2 Apr
NIGERIA: THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND ITS AFTERMATH
“To speak or not to speak”, might well be PMB’s prerogative nevertheless it is a red herring. The real and urgent debate Nigerians ought to be having is the possible negative economic impact of COVID-19.

A few prefatory remarks
1/
Overall, the COVID-19 impact on the advanced countries has been devastating.
And launching the 5th round of QE, it has earmarked $Trillions in the form of subsidies and intervention funds. Massive industry bailouts and expansion in social safety net programs likely to follow. 2/
The massive economic disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic worldwide is expected to continue into the near future.
Currently, the US has extended lockdowns until April 30, and the UK is projecting a minimum of 6 months for return to normalcy. 3/
Read 21 tweets
13 Mar
So here’s a short thread on the subject I borrowed from somewhere online.
“Ghanaian old school high life appealed (still appeals) so much to Eastern Nigerians; there is something about Ghanaian music that resonated with the Igbos in particular. In fact, Ghanaian music helped us stay sane after the Nigerian civil war, that left us bartered, 1/
“ripped to pieces and stripped of dignity. I remember the older folks singing some songs of Ramblers (Dance Band) in Igbo language, that gave us such songs nuances that reflected the social-economic condition at the time. Bands like City Boys (of Ghana), African Brothers,
2/
Read 5 tweets
15 Feb
THE SAVIOR COMPLEX
Every failing society manifests a strong desire for quick redemption often expressed in a wish for a savior; the one who is to come.
The need is so deeply wired into the human consciousness that movie makers sometimes employ deus ex machina to satisfy it
1/
The concept of “salvation” in religious dogma is founded on a similar proposition: that one’s bad deeds, regardless of their gravity - bad faith and betrayals, adultery, larceny, etc - can be wiped away in one fell swoop thereby unburdening one in the after life
2/
It was precisely this desideratum that propelled Nigeria, a society of low moral tendency driven to nihilistic extremes and self-flagellation to latch onto an ascetic and abstemious anti-corruption crusader cum spiritual leader. A man-god waffling into senescence 3/
Read 7 tweets
11 Nov 19
WHY AFRICA IS POOR
(Africa prefers aid and loathes to compete)
@cenbank @CBKKenya @njorogep
@thebankofghana @CBofeg et. al

Africa has an opportunity to use Fintech as a significant, offensive and, commercial tool and become a more potent global competitor

A Thread...
1/
Africa is poor partly because it missed out on two transformational global events- the Agricultural and Industrial revolutions.

But it now has a unique opportunity to participate fully in the Digital Revolution.

However, its regulatory authorities are thwarting its chances
2/
Why is Fintech (broad sweep of digital financial services) so important to Africa? Well, for one its demographic is young (~60% of pop under 30).
This digital generation knows nothing but a digital world. Digital permeates the way they live, transact and experience the world 3/
Read 24 tweets

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