Perhaps of some relevance to this issue is that income disparity has been
increasing within both Canada and the United States (I don't know about other
countries), with the top quintile and top 1% increasing their share of both
income and of wealth.  All per capita income per person represents is GDP divided
by the population.  The gini coefficient is a measure of inequality and it has
been increasing.  There are many homeless and malnourished and unhospitalized
very ill people amidst this sea of affluence.  Socialism?  Fairness?  Equality?
Morality?  Humanitarian?  I don't think so.  The same thing is going on between
countries.  The poor countries are getting both relatively and absolutely poorer,
while the US (in particular) is getting relatively and absolutely richer (as a
country), as is also generally happening to a lesser extent across the G7.
Rhetoric and ideology are nice, but they don't provide food, shelter, health
care, or even clean air and water.

Fred Welfare wrote:

> In a message dated 8/6/99 10:41:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time, [log in to unmask]
> writes:
>
> > UN Human Development states that in 1985, the average income per person in
> >  the richest country was 76 times as much as that in the poorest country.
> In
> >  1997, it is 288 times as great.  Also average income declined in 100
> >  countries over the last decade.
> >
> >  That's what I call SOCIALISM!?
>
> This is not an accurate estimate of the world situation.  Comparing the
> richest and the poorest does not address the average nor does it address
> actual income from
> gorss or net income.  In some nations, a very small net income is all that is
> needed;
> the state may provide so many other services that gross income is cut down by
> taxation, or provides so many entitlements that a high gross income is also
> not necessary.  Income is not necessarily the only indicator differentiating
> capitalism form socialism.
>
> In "World Social Situation in the 1990's" by the United Nations, 1994, the
> main distinctrion is between developed and developing market economies. yes,
> there is a great disparity.  The average output per capita in the developed
> economies is 20-22 times higher than in the developing economies, and the
> size disparity is significant with the developing nations constituting 75% of
> the total pop. but producing only 15% of the total output.  Reasons for this
> disparity: domestic protectionist policies by the
> developed economies!  However, reasons for growth include the globalization
> of the market economy, improved education and access to technology.
>
> Fred Welfare