You'll Do As I Say Or Else...

The US President Barak Obama tells New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, which way to jump, when to jump and how high.
Unfortunately this cynical view is not far from
the truth with Prime Minister Key's policies increasing social inequalities and the wealth of New Zealanders already very rich.
While making sure the poor remain poor thus taking this once egalitarian society further and further away from the caring one it used to be.
And you'll do what I tell you John, or else I won't let you play golf with me again. Ok...

The Richest One Percent Owns Half The World's Wealth...

And by 2016 says Oxfam's Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, they will own more than the other ninety nine percent put together and she implores the world leaders to act urgently
against inequality.
I really don't think they're listening Winnie and nor do they want to hear a thing you're saying. They're not prepared to walk the talk, certainly not while there's arms to manufacture and sell to every man and his dog, not while there's oil to fight wars over and certainly not until they've finished feathering their own nests thankyou very much. And the world's billion poorest who live on less than $1.25 a day aren't going to vote for them anyway...

Charif Souki Gets Paid More To Spend Four Hours At The Office Than The Average US Worker Makes In A Year...

I certainly don't begrudge the CEO of the Texas based Cheniere Energy and the highest earning US executive his US$142 million salary.
He obviously needs it.
And who knows what he gives away,
I don't, so I won't judge him but isn't the amount rather, well, obscene?
Charif and I have never met.
As far as I know he doesn't follow this blog and we've never broken bread together.
Nor have we shared a bottle of red.
But I do feel compelled to send him a copy of my little book, How To Live Well On A Small Income and perhaps he wouldn't need to spend all that time at the office.
The highest paid New Zealand executive is the ANZ Bank's David Hisco who's NZ$4.1 million salary is seen as rather excessive too, even though he's a pauper with a pittance compared with Mr Souki.
And David's salary is one hundred and twenty times more than the bank's lowest paid worker.
All we need is enough
but most don't even have that...

Sonja's Random Acts Of Kindness Make The World A Better Place...

Hello Keith
I wish to order your book 'How To Live Well On 
A Small Income'. I will describe my next attempt to give 10 to an unknown person in need. 
It's not easy here, you know?! 
In recent times, from 'privatization' and mafia government, 99% of people in Croatia are poor or nearly poor or much poorer than before, and less than 1% is filthy rich, without morals - and they don't walk around or shop in supermarkets. Not the same, but a similar situation like in Russia, which you might know. So when I try to give 10 to someone - to the school teacher who is searching for something for dinner in a trash can or an unemployed engineer who collects empty bottles, they recognize me as equal, human hearted, hard surviving person 
and refuse to take 10 from me. 
Today I have some money, and when tomorrow the luck turns you will give 10 to me, I said to these persons, but still they didn't want to take my money. So I discovered other tactics: I offer some candies, fruits, cigarettes. That's accepted. Also I invented envelopes with some little money, but for that I have to know where the person in need lives. I write some funny letter about them winning some prize and put them in their mailbox. That way I am not ruining their pride. 
Last year I became the owner of a vehicle, a simple car, and I invented this '10': When I see someone, especially if they're old or weak, on a lonely bus stop, and it's raining or hot or late, I offer them a lift home. You think this is easy, but it's not. An old sick woman with her heavy bags on a hot day refused me twice (after shopping I passed that bus stop without a timetable and saw her still waiting)! 
Have I deserved your book? 
As for my story: sure, do show it to others. 
I'm an unemployed half-ill professor of literature and language, I'm nearly homeless but 
I do have a garden. 
My monthly income for 1/4 time job is around 200 € and my country is not cheap. 
Love, Sonja.

Thankyou Sonja and thankyou too
for allowing me to publish your letter.
You will have received the little book by now.
Much Aroha to you...