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Virginia Hoyt asked this question about Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity:
My question is actually one the author herself asked in the Author's Note; on page 248, she queries "After all, there are more poor people than rich people in the world's Mumbais. ... Why don't more of our unequal societies implode?"
Adora Myers Very good question. I wish I had a happy answer. Sadly, the rich vs poor scenario has existed for thousands of years and can be found everywhere in th…moreVery good question. I wish I had a happy answer. Sadly, the rich vs poor scenario has existed for thousands of years and can be found everywhere in the world. There are 100s (thousands?) of examples of governments that dissolve under the weight of their own corruption - severe inequality being a big part of that. Personally, I suspect ALL unequal society eventually impload - they are just replaced with another slightly less unequal society until that replacement imploads...and so on.

With massive amounts of scientific and historic data at our fingertips, you would think human beings everywhere would see this and change. Yet, it continues. Why? (shrug) I don't know. I could offer suggestions about individuals acting in self-interest and...similar ideas...but that's just me waxing darkly-philosophical. I on't actually have a hard or solid answer to this question: Why does the human race refuse to act in a manner that is beneficial to the entire species? I wish I knew.(less)
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Behind the Beautiful Forevers
by Katherine Boo
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