One equitable mesh between the rich and the poor are street markets
or roving vendors. The rich oppress the poor and if the poor are
repressed into desperation, they rebel. The extreme being revolution, to
be avoided at all costs. So the solution is to feed the poor and provide
opportunity. This can be done by allowing the poor to market their weirs.
Instead, in America, we have an oppressive system that only allows
advancement through certification. Those who are not registered with an
institution are not allowed to do business. The costs are prohibitive
for the individual to sell his or her goods without exhorbitant
investment, that only works to drive 95% of all business start ups further
into debt. Either someone goes into debt to get certified, i.e. educated,
or they go into debt to go into business to rent booth space, get
insurance, etc.
Granted, some business models justify debt, but the majority of small
start ups do not. If someone is going to make a million dollars they're
going to do it if they start with fifty cents or a hundred thousand
dollars.
So the rich want security and privacy. They can have it at home. They
should be protected from incursion there. However, when they step onto
the street, they should be prepared to be accosted by street vendors who
are just trying to survive and sell their weirs. The rich and vibrant
flavor of the street allows diversity and expression for the oppressed to
participate in society and hope for survival and a better life.
Unfortunately the business model in America, for consumers, has
migrated to malls. A new complex opened up near where I live, over that
last couple of years, and all the businesses that went in there are owned
by huge corporate conglomerates. There are no 'mom and pop' businesses.
The old city central, and the flavor of this local economy, used to be
exclusively small business, but now, after the rural has been turned into
housing developments, the retail sector is all big business. Rather than
frequent Mel's sandwich shop, or Pearls diner, they frequent Subway or
Burger King. Rather than order through Ann's Hardware, they go to home
depot and buy a cheap substitute. If a vendor was to walk down the
street, now, in front of Costco, they'd be thrown in jail.
Instead America has a model where they feed the poor with food stamps.
They keep them quiet, while the rights and freedoms our forefathers use to
enjoy are sold to corporate oliogarthies that no longer value human life,
social fabric or community.
