At the root of all our problems stands one travesty: politicians' surrender to the super-rich | George Monbiot

The Heart of the Matter: Politicians' Reluctance to Tackle Super-Rich

When it comes to politics, there's one issue that stands out above all others. It's not the economy, nor is it foreign policy or social justice. No, the root of our problems lies in a far more insidious and pervasive force: the extreme wealth of a tiny minority. This concentration of power has far-reaching consequences, from fueling polarization and destruction to undermining democracy and human dignity.

The numbers are stark. According to the World Inequality Report 2026, just 56,000 people – a mere 0.001% of the global population – hold three times more wealth than the poorest half of humanity. In the UK alone, 50 families now possess more wealth than 50% of the population combined. This wealth gap has been growing exponentially, with billionaires' fortunes increasing by $2tn in 2024, dwarfing international aid spending.

This phenomenon is not just an economic issue; it's a matter of human rights and dignity. The ultra-rich have become so powerful that they can't be ignored. They wield immense influence over politics, media, and even our daily lives. Their wealth has created an "Epstein class" of global predators, who exploit the rest financially and socially.

The problem is not just about fairness or revenue; it's about accountability and democracy. Politicians who refuse to address this issue are complicit in perpetuating a system that benefits only a select few. When we vote, we're not just choosing leaders; we're choosing sides: those who support extreme concentration of wealth (Group 1) versus those who oppose it (Group 2). Surprisingly, the vast majority of people – 84% across 36 nations – see economic inequality as a major problem and believe that the political influence of the rich is a significant cause.

However, the same can't be said for our politicians. Most members of parliament remain in Group 1, refusing to acknowledge the need for reform or even acknowledging the issue's existence. Even when forced to respond to calls for a wealth tax, they dismiss it as either unworkable or unfair. Their excuses are two-fold: fairness and reducing their own power.

But what about the claim that if we taxed the ultra-rich more, they'd flee the country? The solution is simple: global taxation measures. Yet, our government opposes this approach, opting instead to allow the ultra-rich to continue exploiting us financially and socially.

The media landscape isn't much better. The concentration of wealth among media owners has created an echo chamber that promotes extreme views and stifles inconvenient ideas. Imaginary threats are drummed up to divide and rule, while actual problems are ignored.

This is a battle worth fighting. It begins with politicians who clearly articulate their aim: to address extreme wealth and promote democracy and human dignity. The question remains: where are our representatives?
 
I'm so sure that tackling the super-rich won't work... I mean, it's not like we haven't tried before 🤑. But then again, maybe politicians have been too afraid to take on this issue because they're worried about being part of the problem themselves? 😂 I guess some people might think that taxing the ultra-rich would be unfair, but isn't it fair that those who have so much are also expected to give back to society in some way? 🤔

On the other hand, if we don't do anything, the wealth gap will just keep growing and we'll be stuck with an "Epstein class" of global predators who only care about themselves... wait, what if that's exactly how our politicians want it? They might see the ultra-rich as a way to maintain their own power and influence. 🤷‍♀️

And then there's the media – aren't they just perpetuating this issue by promoting the views of the rich and powerful? 📰 But perhaps they're just trying to do their job, which is to serve the people... or are they? 🤔
 
can u believe its still like this in 2025?! 🤯 the super rich r so powerful they can just ignore everyone else & get away with it. its not just about money tho, its about people being treated unfairly & having no voice. those billionaires & their families r basically above the law, exploiting ppl financially & socially. u cant just sit back & do nothing when u see this kinda thing going on! 🚫 we need to make some noise, get our reps to listen & fight for change. its time to hold them accountable 💪
 
I mean think about it... 56k people hold like three times more wealth than the poorest half of humanity 🤯. That's crazy! It's like, we're living in a world where 0.001% own more than 99.999%. The problem is, politicians don't want to touch that topic because they'd lose some power 😒. And media outlets just amplify their views and ignore the rest... it's all about profit over people. I'm not saying we should tax them or anything, but come on, can't we have a more equal society? 🤑
 
🤔 i think its super sus that ppl in power are more concerned about keepin the fat cats happy than makin sure everyone else has a fair shot at life 🤑 its like they're forgettin that we're all humans, not just pawns 4 some billionaire's game 🌎 we need to start holdin our leaders accountable 4 their actions (or lack therof) & demand real change 💪 the media's role in all this is wild too - it feels like they're more interested in sensationalizin a good story than reportin the facts 📰
 
I don't usually comment but... it's kinda wild that 0.001% of the population holds more wealth than half of the entire population in some countries 🤯💸. And yeah, I get why politicians would be hesitant to tax the rich, but come on, isn't democracy supposed to be about representing everyone's interests, not just a select few? It feels like we're living in a world where the 1% are basically calling the shots and we're stuck in the dark with them 🕷️.
 
🤔 I'm not sure why politicians are so reluctant to tackle the super-rich problem 🤑. I mean, it's not like they're not aware of it or anything... they just seem to be in bed with them, you know? 😳 It's like, what's the point of having democracy if we're just going to let a tiny minority run the show and ignore everyone else? 🤷‍♂️

I'd say 80% of people would agree that it's time for some serious change 💥. We need leaders who are willing to stand up to the ultra-rich and fight for equality, not just for their own power or influence. It's about human dignity and fairness, not just about politics as usual 🙅‍♂️.

I'm getting a bit frustrated with politicians who just won't talk about this issue... like, what's the worst that could happen? 🤔 They'll be remembered as out of touch and ineffective, but at least we'd have tried to do something about it.

And yeah, I've seen some pretty dodgy media outlets in my time 📰, but this whole super-rich thing takes the biscuit... or should I say, it takes a billion-dollar fortune 🤑!
 
omg y'all its like 56k ppl hold 3x more wealth than poorest half of humanity 😱🤯 thats straight up sus! rich ppl are so outta touch, think they can just ignore the probs cuz they're $$$ 🤑. media is all about echo chambers, like who even cares about opposing views anymore? 📺 and whats with politicians being all like "oh no, taxing ultra-rich would be unfair"🙄. like, hello, fair is not just about you rich ppl 💸 gotta address the root of the problem aka economic inequality 🔥👊
 
I don’t usually comment but I gotta say that this whole situation is just wild 🤯. Like, 56,000 people holding like a third of the world's wealth is insane 😲. And it’s not just about being fair or something, it's about them having so much power they can basically control everything without anyone even trying to stop them 👊. I don’t get why politicians are still refusing to do anything about it though 🤷‍♂️. It's like, aren't they the ones supposed to be fighting for the people? Not just the 1% or whatever 🤑. And the media situation is just as bad 📰. Like, if you're not a billionaire or have a certain amount of money and influence then you're basically ignored 💔. It’s time for some real change, ya know?
 
🤑😒 56k people hold more wealth than the poorest half of humanity... that's just wild, right? I mean, it's not like we're supposed to be equal in a democratic society or anything 🤷‍♂️. But for real, how can politicians not talk about this stuff? It's like they're in bed with the rich people or something 😳. We need some folks who are gonna call out the fat cats and make them pay their fair share 💸. And btw, global taxation measures... that sounds like a solid plan to me 🤝. We shouldn't have to choose between equality and economic growth - we can have both! 🔥
 
Back
Top