Why We Can’t Afford the Rich

In this thought-provoking book, Sayer (Why Things Matter to People) puts forth a persuasive examination of the rich, the sources of their wealth, and their impact on the planet and its less fortunate inhabitants. For years, he points out, the wealthiest people have been amassing greater and greater wealth while those in lower income brackets have gotten “progressively less.” Sayer seeks to shed light on what he calls the politics of injustice, in which the rich become rich thanks to others’ hard work and remain so through their own ability to “dominate society for their own interests.” In this picture, not only are the wealthy getting and keeping more due to lower taxes for the highest income brackets, they are able to protect their gains in tax havens while exercising outsized influence over politics and media. Though the prevailing economic wisdom states that we need the rich to create jobs, drive spending, and practice entrepreneurship, Sayer argues that the opposite is actually true. In addition, he examines critical components such as earnings, investments, the “distinction between earned and unearned income,” shares and dividends, and more. Sayer puts forth a cogent and thoroughly convincing argument that will enlighten and inform—and may even help instigate the radical changes he puts forth. [em](Apr.) [/em]