I attach a very short passage on inequality that I find excellent.

David Blair

George Parker, Foreign Affairs

Inequality creates a lopsided economy, which leaves the rich with so much money that they can binge on speculation, and leaves the middle class without enough money to buy the things they think they deserve.

Inequality makes it harder to imagine the lives of others – which is one reason why the fate of over 14 million more or less of permanently unemployed Americans leaves so little impression in the country's political and media capitals.

Inequality corrodes trust among fellow citizens, making it seem as if the game is rigged.

Inequality provokes a generalized anger that finds targets where it can – immigrants, foreign countries, American elites, government in all forms – and it rewards demagogues while discrediting reformers.

Inequality saps the will to conceive of ambitious solutions to large collective problems, because those problems no longer seem very collective.

Dave ~ I appreciated hearing you describe capitalism in a more nuanced way. I remember we talked (very briefly) about capitalism and competition in class one day ~ I don't remember the question that you asked that day, but I remember expressing an unfavorable opinion of capitalism — which I do still stand by when it comes to the extractive/predatory version; admittedly the only form that I'm familiar with. Hearing you speak on this in the episode makes me curious to hear more about Adam Smith's version of capitalism and how it differs from the version I know. I especially wonder how/if Smith's idea of capitalism is more supportive of human & planetary well being.

If anyone else has thoughts on this, I'd love to hear them also!

thanks as always, elena, for taking the time to listen. an investment of time isn't something to be taken lightly, and i truly appreciate yours! wishing you joy and health through these strange times of isolation.