In a passionate plea to address the global hunger crisis, David Beasley – the director of the United Nations World Food Programme – has called upon American billionaires to contribute a small fraction of their wealth.
An Interview With CNN
Beasley’s message was delivered in an interview with CNN. He highlighted the critical need for immediate action as millions of lives hang in the balance due to a convergence of crises, including conflict, climate change, and COVID-19.
A One-Time Solution to a Global Crisis
Beasley emphasized that the world is facing a unique and pressing crisis. With governments stretched thin, he called upon the ultra-wealthy to provide a one-time injection of funds to save lives. Specifically, Beasley said that $6 billion is required to aid approximately 42 million people on the brink of starvation.
It’s Not That Complicated
Beastly said: “The governments are tapped out. This is why, and this is when, the billionaires need to step up now, on a one-time basis, $6 billion to help 42 million people that are literally gonna die if we don’t reach them. It’s not that complicated.”
Billionaires’ Wealth Surged During the Pandemic
Highlighting the astonishing wealth accumulation among billionaires, particularly during the pandemic, Beasley drew attention to the stark contrast between their fortunes and the dire circumstances of those suffering from hunger. US billionaires alone have seen their wealth increase by over a trillion dollars since the pandemic began.
Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk
Beastly went into detail about the gains made by billionaires. He said: “Jeff Bezos’ net worth increased just last year during COVID with $64 billion. I’m just asking for 10% of your net worth increase. Elon Musk had a $6 billion net worth increase in one day. One day.”
A Modest Request
Beasley’s request was modest when viewed in the context of billionaire wealth gains. The top 400 billionaires in the United States witnessed their collective net worth increase by an astonishing $1.8 trillion in a single year. Beasley’s plea translated to a mere 0.36% of their combined wealth growth.
Putting Things Into Perspective
Beasley tried his best to put things into perspective. He said: “All I’m asking for is 0.36% of your net worth increase. I’m for people making money but God knows I’m also for you helping people who are in great need. Right now, the world’s in trouble and you’re telling me you can’t give 0.36% of your net worth increase to help the world in trouble? What if it was your daughter starving to death? What if it was your family starving to death?”
Defining a Billion
A billion is a number so immense that it can be challenging to grasp its sheer magnitude. To put it into perspective, imagine counting from one to a billion, one number per second, without stopping. It would take you over 31 years. If you had a billion one-dollar bills stacked on top of each other, the towering stack would reach over 67 miles into the sky, dwarfing even the tallest skyscrapers. A billion is not just a large number; it’s a colossal, almost unimaginable quantity.
Wake Up and Smell the Coffee
Beasley continued his plea: “Wake up, smell the coffee, and help! I mean, I ask any billionaire – come with me. Just come with me on one trip and let me show you the reality. My God, people are dying out there. Every four seconds, someone’s dying out there from hunger-related causes. Billionaires need to step up.”
Billionaires Are Controversial
Billionaires are a controversial topic. While many people say their wealth is well-deserved and earned, others argue that it’s impossible to make so much money without exploiting others. This idea has roots in socialism – an economic system in which every person is paid the full value of their labor rather than a set wage. In socialism, the means of production are owned by the workers themselves instead of private entities or governments. It’s important to fully grasp the differences between economic systems in order to understand why people hold the opinions they do.
Explaining Socialism Very Simply
To put socialism into perspective, imagine working in a bar and – in one 8-hour shift – you make $1,500 profit for the company. Under capitalism, you might have an hourly wage of $9, meaning you’d leave the shift having made $72 with the remaining $1,428 going to the owner of the business. Under socialism, the workers own the means of production. As such, you’d walk away with the $1,500 but, of course, some of it would need to be put back into the business. It’s worth noting that this is a very simplistic example.
Capitalism vs. Socialism
To socialists, capitalism is inherently exploitative because it doesn’t pay workers the full value of their labor. It’s important to understand that the word “socialist” is often misused in modern-day America to mean something akin to “someone who wants to keep capitalism but make it a bit more tolerable for the working class.” Moreover, to highlight another misconception, China’s economic system more closely resembles capitalism with some socialist and communist elements.
A Longstanding Debate
Whether or not billionaires should be allowed to exist, and whether or not they should be made to help with things like world hunger, has been the subject of debate for many years. One online commenter said: “It’s unethical to hoard enough money to feed a hundred million people when that many are starving.”
Hoarded Assets and Hoarded Cash
Opinions on the matter vary drastically. “Billionaires aren’t holding billions of cash in a Bank of America checking account. They own assets that are estimated to be worth that much. If you own a house that’s worth $100,000, you don’t have $100,000. You could potentially have that much if you sell it and get the estimated value under specific circumstances,” one person said, replying to the aforementioned commenter. “Sure. This isn’t contradicting anything I said. I understand the hoarded assets are not cash,” the first individual hit back.
Morally Suspect Individuals
A fair few people believe that billionaires are inherently immoral. One person said: “Anyone who has a billion dollars did not earn it. The only way to obtain that kind of wealth is by exploiting others. So, just by being a billionaire, that person is morally suspect.”
Changing the System
Others expressed frustration. One person said: “What frustrates me is that money is completely made up and nobody seems to understand that. I don’t know if it’s because I’m autistic or what but I don’t understand why we can’t just print more money. And before you say anything, I know about hyperinflation. But what people don’t seem to get is that the entire system is made up. We could come together and change it. The world has enough resources for everyone. But we don’t.”
Money Shouldn’t Exist
Some people held similar opinions to the aforementioned individual. One person said: “Forget billionaires. Money shouldn’t exist at all. The existence of money is what has led to poverty and the world has everything anyone could possibly need. Humanity seriously needs to change soon or we’re done for. Capitalism needs to go entirely and so does the concept of money.”
Right-Wingers Were Apathetic
Right-wingers held a vastly different view. “Billionaires earn every penny they have. Why do you deserve any of it? Why does anyone who doesn’t work as hard deserve any of it? This is why everyone hates the left. All you want is handouts so you can be lazy,” one person wrote.
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