What type of people own high-high-end gear?

[Infinitely Baffled]

I'm not one of those people who holds that over-population is the main issue, but that is another debate I suppose.

Poor government, corruption, religious and tribal/ethnic conflicts IMV are the main reasons why people are living in shit in some areas of the world. If the solution was to throw money at it then the problem would be solved by now. That only leaves military intervention with a view to regime change and we have seen how well that works out a number of times in the past two decades.

Yes, I think that is broadly right: the main, fundamental, underlying problem is that people are rubbish. That's all people, I'm afraid - in varying degrees, to be sure, but fundamentally self-interested. And I can't think what we could do to change that, so look for a minute at what other big factors there are in play. I'm of the view that over-population is a huge underlying cause of misery, and certainly for the future will be the cause of a lot more. Some of the most effective strategies for combating over-reproduction involve improved education for women. And that is something you CAN throw money at. So it's not enough really to say that nothing can be done.

Academic, though, if you don't think overpopulation is a big issue.
IB

[RothwellAudio]

I'm of the view that over-population is a huge underlying cause of misery, and certainly for the future will be the cause of a lot more.

I agree with you. Even if you take the view that we're nowhere near the limit yet of what the planet can sustain, it has to be acknowledged that infinite expansion is not an option and there must be a limit at some point.
And that brings up another issue that I can't get my head round: does the current economic model that the world operates on depend on an ever-expanding population to work? If so, doesn't that mean it can't work indefinitely?
Don't expect me to provide any answers - I haven't even worked out what money is yet

[Macca]

There isn't really a current economic model, it is just a lash-up which is why it fell over in 2008 and will fall over again at some point.

IMO Population growth won't continue for ever, see Malthus et al. In any case we are still a long way from a Soylent Green situation.

[Joe]

Well, you probably could, but it wouldnt be palatable to the liberals .

Those liberals in the Roman Catholic church?

[Joe]

Let's assume everyone agrees that illegal earnings should be confiscated (indeed they can be, and often are). What then constitutes 'immoral wealth'? Is it any unearned income? All income above a certain level, however earned?

[struth]

Those liberals in the Roman Catholic church?

No i wasnt thinking them tbh, although i guess they has a burdon to bear

[Macca]

Let's assume everyone agrees that illegal earnings should be confiscated (indeed they can be, and often are). What then constitutes 'immoral wealth'? Is it any unearned income? All income above a certain level, however earned?

That's what I want to know.

[Joe]

No i wasnt thinking them tbh, although i guess they has a burdon to bear

The RC church could make a huge impact on population growth by changing its position on contraception.

[Macca]

The RC church could make a huge impact on population growth by changing its position on contraception.

It already did, few years ago now.

[Macca]

Every sperm is no longer sacred.