Hi Nicie. I agree with all the issues you point to: pollution, plastic, income inequality, greedy corporations. And yes, most of the world is poorer than the poorest elements in the US.

I was only pointing out that in the US, the “1%” are not the problem. The cost of living is very different in different places in the US. Someone in the national 1%, but living in an urban area, has the same lifestyle as someone in the 50% living in a rural area — a townhouse, a cheap car, no extravagant vacations.

Such a person is indeed wealthy compared to most of the world. I was just pointing out that “1%” is not the people who are “rich” — who are accumulating wealth, hiding it, and manipulating public policy. The 1% are not the evil-doers. They are comfortable, yes, but they are not swimming in money.

And remember that 1% does not mean your income is 100 times the average — 1% is a percentile. My income is twice what my daughter earns, who is just starting out — not 100 times. But the IRS takes half of that additional amount, so my net income is 50% more than my daughter who is just starting out. It’s a good amount, but I am 63 and at the peak of my career.

If you want a scapegoat — people who are accumulating wealth — you need to go higher than the 1%. The 1% are hard working people. They are not the manipulators or the “captains of industry”.

Over-population is the root cause of problems we face with climate change, pollution, and the exponentially rising cost of living in urban areas. You are right that it has nothing to do with income inequality and many other issues.