Rutger Bregman is a well-known Dutch historian who stirred things up at the 2019 Davos meeting of the world’s wealthy elite when he spoke about tax avoidance. We had already observed that the rich were getting richer at a rapid pace, and that hasn’t changed. Between 2019 and 2021, 63% of all wealth went to just 1% of the population. That’s why the Monopoly man’s cry of “Tax the rich!” sounds particularly alarming.
The brilliant thing is, he really grabs attention. Try focusing your eyes on any other part of the composition—it’s difficult! That’s how it works; to be heard, you have to stand out, to make yourself seen. For poorer people, though, that’s much harder, as I know from working at the Salvation Army. They lack the means and often carry a lot of shame. Luckily, Bregman also believes that most people are good at heart. So things will eventually improve, right? Or is that just wishful thinking?