Rich

I was reading an article this morning called “When the Rich Get Richer.”  According to it, the top 0.1% in the US have the equivalent wealth of the bottom 90%.  In the UK the 1,000 richest, have the same wealth as the bottom 40%.
There was stuff in there I was familiar with, and other things that were totally new to me.  Much of what was written rang true, based on both my outlook and experiences.  Some of what was said reminded me of our perception of politicians these days.  There seems to be a widely held belief they do not understand.
What I read gave me a picture of why.  One of the psychologists said “people become less empathetic as they grow richer.”  For one person their biggest worry was that their new neighbour would not talk to them because they were not seen as rich enough.  Naturally this is a generalization, and my experience is that some really rich, really care.  But a lot don’t.
It seems the richer people get the more self-absorbed they can become.  There comes an unhealthy obsession with holding on to what is had.  Poor people become a nuisance.  An example was a woman who had moved into a gated community (this was based in the UK and US).  The big debate was should they get another gate?  Her question was why, when they had one already that was manned, and some of them had guns.  There are places where to have a second could be justified, but the impression was this was not one of those places. 
What makes this really hard is that those who benefit most from isolation based on richness, don’t want things changed.  In a sense they are immune to the plight of those who are less fortunate then they are.  When problems are highlighted, a person may as well be talking about the surface of Mars, because the other has insulated themselves.
Maybe that is why nothing really changes unless those in power are confronted by a reality that is foreign.  There is a good chance they had no real idea it existed - not because it was hidden, but was open in a place they chose never to see.  We laud those in power who actually choose to get down and dirty and emerge from their cloisted world, to see what else is happening.
It seems to me selfishness is a blight.  I do not need to be rich to experience it.  Some is self-preservation which to me is a good thing, when it does not come at the expense of others.  Other selfishness is just me wanting what I want, and blow you Jack.  Actually, not just Jack but anyone.  It does seem I am inclined to want to hold things tight.
It would be great if selfishness was the domain of one group only and I could point my finger and say “it’s all their fault.”  Trouble is, I am one of the “their.”  Not that I am rich, but I am a part of all humanity and selfishness manifests itself in the rich and poor alike.  If the word “everybody” excludes me, then I am excused.  But “everybody” includes me.
I can only change if I want to.  Seems a good place to start to me, and that should keep me busy for a lifetime.  I am big on the fact I cannot do everything, but I can do something.