Guest Post: Davos Shocked To Hear That Poor People Exist
Submitted by Finance Addict
Davos Shocked To Hear That Poor People Exist
Ok, I exaggerate. But that’s my cynical first impression after finding the following diagram in the briefing book for the gathering of the good and the great at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. (Click for a larger size.)
As you can see “Severe income disparity” is #1 on the Top 5 risks list this year, after having failed to make the short list for the preceding 5 years.
Now it’s not as though the attendees of Davos were completely inattentive to the economic plight of the less fortunate all this time. “Economic disparities” was on last year’s laundry list of risks and was featured prominently in the executive summary of 2011's report. But the urgency has been ratcheted up quite a bit this year: note the new modifier “severe” and the use of the more specific “income” rather than “economic”. But wait, there’s more.
Compare 2011's anodyne language:
the benefits of globalization seem unevenly spread – a minority is seen to have harvested a disproportionate amount of the fruits. Although growth of the new champions is rebalancing economic power between countries, there is evidence that economic disparity within countries is growing.
with this year’s:
Dystopia, the opposite of a utopia, describes a place where life is full of hardship and devoid of hope. Analysis of linkages across various global risks reveals a constellation of fiscal, demographic and societal risks signalling a dystopian future for much of humanity. The interplay among these risks could result in a world where a large youth population contends with chronic, high levels of unemployment, while concurrently, the largest population of retirees in history becomes dependent upon already heavily indebted governments. Both young and old could face an income gap, as well as a skills gap so wide as to threaten social and political stability.
They actually used the “D” word. Remember, this is not the research paper of some grad student with a flair for the dramatic. This document was written in part by Swiss Re and Zurich Financial Services — two of the most solid P&C insurers and re-insurers in the world. Their only business is the identification and management of real world risk. When you start hearing the language of Huxley and Orwell on the slopes of the Swiss Alps, then you’d best believe that something fundamental has shifted and that a lot of the rich and powerful are more frightened than they used to be.
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They can almost feel the rope.
How many of the world's non-elites were invited to Davos to discuss the issue?
look on the bright side... Looking back at 2011 it appears we have SOLVED the "Corruption" problem...
Damn are we good!
>>>When you start hearing the language of Huxley and Orwell on the slopes of the Swiss Alps, then you’d best believe that something fundamental has shifted and that a lot of the rich and powerful are more frightened than they used to be.<<<
They'll be "hearing" from all of us soon.
I concur however more and more I am becoming convinced that the mob will be slow to rise. Sure, the 15 of us will get off our asses and do something but I am not sure anything short of a prod will dislodge the sheeple from their television perches.
As an aside... Meteorological Catastrophe! Climatological Catasatrophe! Hydrological Catastrophe! What the hell were they expecting to happen in 2011???
Expecting or planning?
Some say that there are other forces at work here, thwarting their effrorts.
I almost went there... thanks for carrying my water.
Expect 'Alien Invasion' to be on the list in 2013
My alien invasion beat your alien invasion by 22 minutes (see below)...
Sorry, I RULE... (but I'll fund your campaign, & you can be the next TOTUS)...
Touche... I bow to your greatness.
However, I pick up style points for the (coincidentally) appropriate avatar.
Oh wow... The "avatar" totally slipped by me... I therefore cannot be considered suitable to lead... I hereby abdicate the throne to you... As a token of faith, do you think you could help me get a few million dollar a pop appearances on the lecture circuit?...
Francis, the two of you playing Who's on First and funny too? Bravo, I bow.
They actually used the “D” word. Remember, this is not the research paper of some grad student with a flair for the dramatic. This document was written in part by Swiss Re and Zurich Financial Services — two of the most solid P&C insurers and re-insurers in the world. Their only business is the identification and management of real world risk. When you start hearing the language of Huxley and Orwell on the slopes of the Swiss Alps, then you’d best believe that something fundamental has shifted and that a lot of the rich and powerful are more frightened than they used to be.
Best weekly sumation that even Obama and Timmy G can understand!
Exactly correct in terms of sentiment. However, factually erronious in the assumption that Huxley and Orwell are somehow exotic or removed from the 'rich and famous'. In truth, both authors were concurrently tools and members of the NWO elite. Their works were all created with (malice of) forethought as part of the larger group conditioning agenda.
I can dig up some citations, etc if I can tear myself away from my 'real' job later today if anyone doubts me.
Yes, as soon as we have nothing more to lose. That is when people will act. They take away people's security by using too heavy a hand then people will have nothing left to lose... just as sure as taking away their food, water or shelter.
I think the Davos elites are well aware of the world's poor. However it is the "almost-poor" that they remain unaware of -- and are the far greater danger to the elites. To put a finer point on it: The world's "poor" live in Africa and Asia and aren't going to set their houses on fire at 3am. The "almost-poor" however are the ones most likely to introduce the elites to dire concerns for personal safety.
If you've ever spent time in emerging market countries where weath disparity exists on a wider scale -- you've seen the attention paid to spiked fences, high walls, surveillance systems, guard posts and the like. The elites of America and Europe have very little in that regard. That's probably going to be looked back on as a major oversight.
In my perpetual arguments with the "don't steal my money through taxation" crowd, I often try to remind them that their own self-interest demands that the poor be given the bare minimum and that the middle class be vibrant. It doesn't do much good to own a Bentley if you can't drive it through the city streets without fear of being attacked. At least the body guard industry is going to get a much needed shot in the arm, and maybe the returning troops will have a job guarding the wealthy.
Then they'll complain about how much they have to pay bodyguards. It never ends.
Even Milton Friedman understood the principle you've elucidated.
Feudalism Ho!
"If you've ever spent time in emerging market countries where weath disparity exists on a wider scale -- you've seen the attention paid to spiked fences, high walls, surveillance systems, guard posts and the like."
What, you mean like Phoenix, AZ, or New Orleans, or parts of Florida, where everything worth $5 is wrapped in razor wire?
"That's probably going to be looked back on as a major oversight."
Or a major new business and investment opportunity.
Mr. Prince of Xe, the next Steve Jobs.
Those are reasonably effective against common criminality, but like the lock on your door, to a determined assailant, all those measures amount to are delaying tactics. When TSHTF, you can't count on paid help to watch your back. All it takes is for a couple of hired guards to take one in the head before the rest call in sick.
Ultimately, security cannot be purchased, neither can loyalty.
Freedom's just another word for nothing left to lose. (Bobby McGee)
When you start hearing the language of Huxley and Orwell on the slopes of the Swiss Alps, then you’d best believe that something fundamental has shifted and that a lot of the rich and powerful are more frightened than they used to be.
I think the fact that their boy Romney is flailing, and that American youth are driving the Ron Paul movement and also increasingly recognize Obama as a Wall Street tool, probably scares the crap out of them. All the stops are beig poulled out by the MSM, seemingly to little effect. Wolf Blitzer was defending Romney the other day, for christ's sake.
American wealthy are already in enclaves; the thing to watch for is an overt increase in physical security in and around these enclaves. Patrols, fences, men with rifles wearing Xe uniforms.
Edit: something else to watch for is an overt increase in the decadence of the wealthy's behaviour. As they become increasingly separate from "us" and increasingly afraid to leave their enclaves (except to convoy to another one) the isolation will twist them. Read history. This will just piss people off even more.
Edit again, and OT (or is it?): Geithner has no credibility on tax collection. He is being replaced so the new guy can credibly crack down on tax collections. Any state in dire financial straights gets around to this eventually, and Geithner is incapable of leading that charge. This is the reason for his demise.
My God, you're saying it could get worse? America already has the most efficient tax collection system on the planet....the envy of all other States. We should abolish the CTFC and give the job to the IRS.
Thank you flattrader. Your response/quote made my day!
I'd interpret this elevation of the importance/urgency of the income inequality issue as a calculated move that's going to be used to justify action.
This isn't them being scared, this is them creating the justification for the next steps.
The next step would logically make everyone's income the same, except for those who run the show, ... who are elevated to god status through their own mutual consent, right?
Communism government and propaganda media run by the banking empire?
You heard el presidente - we need more fairness. Fairness is going to be the justification for a whole host of future moves that are anything but.
I do think that this article misses the point, but it does highlight an important and interesting detail.
....Not 'Fairness', but JUSTICE! When there finally is 'Real Justice' in all things behavioral (e.g. 'Action'), a new beginning will have blossomed. Unfortunately, TPTB could not compete effectively in a 'Just' society....
You could say that justice is just the embodiment of fairness. In "their" sales pitches "they" blur the distinction between the fairness/justice of the underlying system and rules and the fairness/justice of the result.
Amongst a group of actors playing the game, they cry out that something is unfair when someone ends up in a worse position, ignoring completely the fact that the steps required to make everyone equal in the end is grossly unfair to those who played by the same rules and succeeded. I'm not talking about the true elites here - they don't have to play by the rules anyway - just everyone else. The rules of nature are being subverted, and mankind is paying the price.
This (an example) would be justcie: To see a real investigation of the robo-signing and mortgage loan frauds; to see criminal indictments, prosecutions, convictions, sentencings and long ass-raping stints in the federal pen...instead of a "sweetheart" deal for the banks and mortgage cos. who helped perpetrate this fraud by originating it, packaging it and selling worldwide.
I think that would satisfy both a sense of justice and fairness to "those that played by the rules" and "those who got screwed."
with none of the redistibution of wealth in the "opposite direction" that you seem so afraid of...because we know that any redistribution of wealth should be from the bottom to the top, no?
You had me up to this point. I don't support "wealth redistribution" by extrajudicial means in any direction. What are you insinuating? Am I not being sympathetic enough to the welfare class?
You implied that justice means fairness means redistrubution of wealth and that's to be avoided.
>>>You could say that justice is just the embodiment of fairness. In "their" sales pitches "they" blur the distinction between the fairness/justice of the underlying system and rules and the fairness/justice of the result.<<<
...justice is just the embodiement of fairness...just???
I assert that where the housing fraud crisis is concerned (as an example,) justice and fairness could be applied to this situation without redistribution of wealth in any direction provided regulators and enforcers actually did their jobs...without any "deals" which would include write-downs disguised as "penalties."
Any monetary penalties would be awarded only to those homeowners who actually suffered some form of "fraudclosure."
I agree entirely with your assertion/example, which I think actually demonstrates my original point: That justice/fairness needs to take place through the enforcement of rules and regulations, not by shifting money around at the end where everyone has otherwise played by the rules.
When I linked justice/fairness with the redistribution concept I was doing within the context of these clowns in Davos getting together to figure out how to make everyone's income more equal.
Oh how I love Justice Lee! But don't rule out that with a construct to compete they may sharpen the A game. Do you assume all the super rich don't know how to compete?
"This isn't them being scared, this is them creating the justification for the next steps."
Perhaps it is not a coincidence after all that they can now track us through license plate cameras and facial recognition software and a dozen other means. And perhaps the crazies who talk about FEMA camps aren't so crazy after all.
Cameras, if they aren't hidden in lamp posts and you can't locate them, can be made inoperable. Of course, you could always take out the electrical grid to get all of them.
Gene,
I'd interpret "severe income disparity" as a euphemism for civil disorder.
"Severe income disparity" is a classic political 'hold all' phrase which allows our 'masters' to discuss civil contigencies rather than addressing the 'problem' that appears to be highlighted.
Addressing "Severe income disparity" is positive, addressing the probable dangers of civil war looks desperately negative.
Maybe that's what they mean by it, but even still I don't trust the Davos crowd enough to be comfortable with them being the ones to address the problem. I don't, for example, expect that they're going to be willing to give any political power back to the common people, or that they'll all of a sudden start being equitable when it comes to the financial markets. These issues are best addressed on a country by country basis, not by a bunch of globalists.
I agree.
Those top 5 Gobal risks are the top 5 risks to their hegemony.
Interestingly, "Severe income disparity" doesn't even feature in previous year's lists and yet "Severe income disparity" has existed for decades.
The Arab Spring has shown that seemingly invulnerable 'Governments" can be ejected and the UK riots in the Summer gave a lot of important people in the west, not just the UK, a jolt, Ron Paul and the Occupy movement are two threats on the horizon.
"Severe income disparity", read - discontent, a feeling of disenfanchisement, and general threat of disorder. Especially amongst the youth who , and I'm not young myself, have been right royally screwed over.
damn the we are damn good...we need actions, not rhetorics.
And Hurricanes/typhoons! yup damn good!
See? This kind of talk completely dispels many conspiracy theories that exist on the 'net--the elite know they are outnumbered, there are no space aliens running the show, and they are desperately trying to convince themselves that they must "share the wealth" somehow before they get their heads lopped off. I wonder if they will have any breakout sessions relating to Ghadafi, as in "how to avoid having this happen to you" kind of talks.
Also, on the subject of dystopia, I have heard others reference the notion that we are living "Blade Runner." That struck me as very apt.
Watch "Blue Gold" for a look into the not so distant future.
2007-2011, the crack smoking years.
Davostopia ?
Cool Avatar Polish.
" signalling a dystopian future for much of humanity"
Jesus fucking christ. I think a little part of me has kept hoping I was just bat shit crazy. Even I never use the D word when trying to talk to others.
We really are, totally fucked.
They better be frightened. Electric gates and a butler won't save you from the masses.
Was it Dimon who near panicked when OWS marched on his apartment building? Cut his speech short?
That was some "tell."
There won't be enough private helicopters to pick them off rooves.
Slightly cloudy with a chance of crashing helos.
They aren't remotely frightened. Why should they be? We'll all be too busy fighting amongst ourselves and trying to survive. The few who understand the cause will get swallowed up by the ground level mess before they can mount a revenge expedition off to all of their various compounds.
OWS found Dimon's crib without a problem. I'm sure they could have found Dimon too...but that wasn't the point of the exercise, now was it?
You actually think he's going to be in Manhattan peering through the blinds when the shit really starts hitting the fan? OWS was never a threat to him or anybody else.
>>>OWS was never a threat to him or anybody else.<<<
That remains to be seen. They clearly changed the tone, vocabulary and direction of the conversation for starters...and unlike many, I think that was just Round 1.
He might not be in Manhattan peering through the blinds. Perhaps peering around a bodygaurd...somewhere. It only takes one person to give him up.
Safety is an illusion for them.
I disagree. I think they are absolutely terrified because they know what a house of cards they have built. The rich are utterly terrified of not being rich. Many will commit suicide before they have to live like normal peons.
And how exactly are they going to be separated from their currently existing wealth?
It worked during the French Revolution, the mobs went right past the instigator's gates.
There will be not only gates, but also former special forces hired as mercs, but yeah, even those superheroes will be overwhelmed eventually.
I can't wait until 2013 where the top block will be "alien space invasion"...
I think 2013 will be:
The 99% know where we live
I think their backup plan is to fall in with the aliens... They'll say "Look here ALIENS... We invented fractional reserve banking, we can make you RICH!"...
The Disclosure! Fareed Zakaria and Krugman discuss on CNN/GPS (details at 11)
Krugman calls for space aliens to fix U.S. economy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nhMAV9VLvHA
I think the date of this alien space invasion (PROJECT BLUEBEAM) will be 21.12.12 (possibly with a pre visit at the London Olympics 27.7.12-12.8.12). This Fake Alien Invasion is fake from the point of view that aliens are fake and a creation of the elite since WWII to prepare us for this year, but it is real in terms of the use of space weapons which will be devastating to every city on the planet and will go a long way towards their goals of 95% depopulation. This will be followed by combining of religious figures (Jesus, Krishna, etc) into a one world religion, also mind-controlling low frequencies (from 'mobile phone masts'), and crowned with forcible introduction of an RFID chip for each remaining person.
We all need to know all about this in advance, as it will affect EVERY one of us on the planet, and maybe if enough expect it, they will modify or cancel it. These 2 links summarise everything you need to know; they are the best out of 100s of articles/youtubes. Please watch and digest.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyQv18_hiTs&feature=related 10 MINUTE SUMMARY
http://unitednationsoffilm.com/?p=2326 LITTLE SLOW TO LOAD BUT VERY COMPREHENSIVE
Let's make it a Hollywood style blockbuster if nothing else.
We can crowd finance it from kickstarter.com
...shocked!
....SHoCKeD!
"...now how are the ski conditions?"
fine ...
http://www.j2ski.com/snow_forecast/Switzerland/Davos_snow_report.html
"Wax the boards and let's hit the slopes. Order some blow and girls for apres ski. Tell the reporters we're in a closed session."
Well, of course they exist my good fellow - but to call them "people" is a stretch. Anyone with a net worth with less than seven zeros is more like 3/5 of a person...and must be treated accordingly.
I recall something about camels and eyes of needles.
If i had just worked as part of the elite to Rob the entrie population of the world through a centrally plannned system of fractional reserve banking / bailouts /Auterity /QE / and ZIRP I would be pretty frightened right now!
Time is ticking for the elite!
Exactly right, NDAA, indefinite detention, people like McCain voting for it. And from a recent article interviewing Soros, he talks about, riots but what stuck out is what he said, " he is more concerned with surviving than staying rich. “At times like these, survival is the most important thing."
Very true. The laws being passed in the US lately are the tell--they are preparing for widespread social unrest.
And therein lies the paradox. You robbed, clawed, and cheated your way to top. You're king of the hill. Congratulations. You the man. But guess what. Now you're surrounded by people that hate you, and want to take you down. You suffer from paranoia, prisoner in your own castle. You don't even trust your own hooker. Your own private dystopia, and little hope for you in the afterlife.
They are up to something... and it's probably not solutions that will be agreeable to any of us.
All of those NWO "conspiracy theories" aren't sounding so crazy to anyone paying attention these days.
Thats why Alex Jones has the fatest growing radio show in the world ....
Although i find a few of the things he chats about still pretty hyperbole for even the most open minded of person.
I personaly like to read his information. Listening to him grates on my nerves.
He's a fake. Eg. 'FIGHT THE NWO'. It's all to vague and scary and focused on politics. He doesn't properly name the Bankers and the Rothschilds as the leaders here. And, his reports are about 600% longer than they need to be - 6 youtubes, when one would provide all info necessary. He interviews idiots like Leslie Williams, and directs interviews with people who have important information. Bill Clinton even supports him. He is all about predictive programming and promotion of confusion.
If I had his influence, I would say, get out of paper, banks and buy physical silver out of reach of govt, get out of US/UK/EUR, any any city if possible, get a second passport, internationalise assets, learn about project bluebeam and get your family ready with emotional preparedness, food, water, weapons. Iran is not the enemy, and your family should understand that coronal mass ejection, solar flare, pole shift, global warming, meteor crash, and aliens are TOTAL CRAP.
THERE ALEX JONES, FIXED IT FOR YA IN 4 LINES, A***OLE.
And that's why he won't say those things. They'd take away his microphone.
I completely disagree with that analysis. If anything, it proves how uncoordinated the elite really are.
Yes a nice war in the desert sands would take care of a lot of their problems.
Great, you've pinpointed it. Step two is washing it off.
Ahh, a Tommy Boy movie reference! Fine taste Apocalicious. The narrative I have is man goes to Mars in 2032 and other highlight is man enters 4D 'Stargate'. What's your narrative?
I envision a room full of fattened up Yorkshire boars in smart tailored suits. "Smells like livestock in here, doesn't it?" "Hmm, yes, quite. I say, we should find a way to wash that off."
That's because the conference is in Switzerland.
I cannot imagine that they give a damn about anyone else.
So, this might be a "be careful what you wish for, because you might get it" moment.
Being the top of the world might not be so attractive if the world is a flaming, garbage heap. Did they really have to destroy the world to be able to rule it?
Court docket cleared. Bailiff, looks like we're going out of business for awhile - drinks all around. But first, take the swords off the wall and sharpen them. Time to prepare for our last war.
Too much read in this drivel.
Five years already and notice how the previous major risks disappeared from the list.
Just new issuances of risks to justify the existence and the meaning of Davos meetings.
Over the last four years, they have done the job reducing the risks and as they can not be out of jobs, well, new risks have emerged for them to tackle.
After all, US citizens are efficient in tackling problems. Would not be that clever to provide evidences they are not that much.
Self justification, US citizenism style.
Yes, the Chinese are SO much more clever in tackling problems like corruption, exploitation, toppling buildings, poisoned food, exploding trains, total environmental destruction, and a housing bubble that's taken the economy in a headlock that even a centralized government can't escaape. You know, the same government that censors the media and tells you all is well while building empty cities?