I am a dual German/South African citizen, born in 1951 (originally boomers were born between 1945 and 1951), and I have lived and worked in the States, in the UK, in Germany, Portugal, Spain, Lesotho, Scotland, England, South Africa, and Lesotho. I have also traveled to many other countries.
The broad definition of an economy is the production of and distribution of resources. So one can have a socialist economy, a mercantilist economy, a capitalist economy, a feudalist economy, and so on, and so forth.
Countries, nations, communities thrived regardless of the economic system in place. The real issue always went back to the value/ethics system.
You say, "you categorically reject the idea that is income inequality is the primary reason for the current societal breakdown. Your explanation seems to be, there were poor people in the past – and people just accepted it because people had better ethics, morals had more grit."
I absolutely do.
My maternal grandparents had an adobe house, with no electricity, no indoor plumbing, no phone, no car, nothing. When my grandmother passed in 1979, it was still like that. At no point whatsoever did she or any of her 9 kids become criminals or cause violence in society.
My late father, when he escaped the Nazis, left Germany with the clothes on his back. Along with many other holocaust survivors, they endured humiliation, poverty, and more. They did not become criminals.
During none of these times was there societal breakdown.
As for my 'distorted view of history,' I studied world history, covering Eolithic, Neolithic, Paleolithic, Hittites, Roman, Greek, Ottoman Empire, British Empire, Unification of various countries in Europe (Germany, Italy), Feudalism, Mercantilism, Russia, the rise of Totalitarianism, Red China, and more. I think I have a better understanding of history than most.
I studied at colleges in South Africa, the UK, and America.
I read news sources from Asia, Africa, Europe, the UK, Australia, and not much from America. I will occasionally read from America. I sometimes read sources from the Middle East.
My world view has been formed by exposure to multiple cultures, living a life in many different countries, studying at different institutions in different countries, so I think it's pretty broad.
There is nothing 'anti-intellectual' about what I wrote. Economics is bs in my opinion. Our world has become worse, not better, since economists dictated 'economies.' You might like to google that phrase, 'economics is bullshit.' I'm not alone in that opinion.
You said, " The unwritten meaning that I took from this is that in Hinduism and Islam people know there place because “Daddy-In-The-Sky” will make their existence after death miserable if they try to address the inequalities they face by resorting to violence in this life."
Yes, of course, you would put that meaning to it. My point was simply that no matter how awful a culture is, so long as everybody is singing the same song, it more or less works. If you didn't get that, I'm sorry. Perhaps you can learn to think more carefully?
With regard to the demographics of Switzerland, it's predominantly European (they come from EU countries).
"Of the 2,951,000 permanent residents with a migrant background, 38% have Swiss nationality. The most common foreign nationalities are Italian (10%), German (9%), Portuguese (7%), French (4%), Kosovar (3%) and Spanish (3%)."
I do not see any Africans, South Americans, Asians, or people from the Middle East. Those people have vastly different cultures. People from within Europe tend to have a Christian culture. Very little difference. They believe murder is wrong. They believe eating people is wrong. They believe a lot of common things that are not believed by people from vastly different cultures.
You said, "In my opinion, reducing income inequality (or the number of poor people to say it another way) will have a much greater effect on reducing societal tensions than blaming diversity, people leaving organized religion, or poor grammar skills."
Well, you go on believing that. Unfortunately, I have watched many countries fail in my life time. Did you have a good look at Zimbabwe?
For the record, should you consider it, inequality is also the result of a particular culture. If one believes in the class system, that will affect the inequality. However, it is only one of the cultural differences that leads to the failing countries.
