Why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer | Us & Them | DW Documentary

Summary

The video script explores the complexities of poverty and wealth through personal narratives. It features individuals from diverse backgrounds, including a South African entrepreneur, a London resident on benefits, and a mother striving to provide for her children. The script delves into the impact of systemic issues like apartheid's legacy, housing crises, and economic inequality on people's lives. It also touches on societal perceptions of the rich and the struggles of the working class, aiming to humanize economic disparities and inspire change.

Takeaways

• 💡 Capitalism is seen as a double-edged sword, offering opportunities for wealth but also the risk of poverty and dehumanization.
• 🔄 The cycle of poverty can be challenging to break, with individuals sometimes falling back into hardship despite efforts to climb out.
• 🏡 Housing is a significant issue, with many facing unaffordable rents and poor living conditions, even in wealthy countries.
• 🤝 There is a call for societal change, with individuals like Princess and Sak making a difference through entrepreneurship and community support.
• 💼 Employment is a critical factor in overcoming poverty, but structural issues and personal circumstances can make it difficult to secure stable work.
• 🏢 The gap between the rich and the poor is widening, leading to social and economic imbalances that affect communities and countries.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family background and support play a significant role in an individual's ability to escape poverty and achieve stability.
• 🏦 The script highlights the importance of financial literacy and the ability to manage resources effectively to avoid poverty.
• 🌐 Globally, there is a recognition of the interconnectedness of wealth and poverty, with the actions of the rich impacting the opportunities available to the poor.
• 🤔 The narrative questions the sustainability of current economic systems, suggesting that change is necessary to address growing inequalities.

Q & A

What is the main theme discussed in the video script?

The main theme discussed in the video script is the disparity between the rich and the poor, and how it affects individuals and communities in different parts of the world.

What does the speaker believe about capitalism and its impact on individuals?

The speaker believes that capitalism can be a form of slavery, causing poverty and stripping individuals of their human dignity, forcing them to be beggars and always asking for help.

What is the significance of the name 'Princess' for the woman mentioned in the script?

The name 'Princess' was given to her by her father and signifies a time when she was considered precious, contrasting with her current job of washing laundry and working in farms.

What is Sak's business and how long has he been running it?

Sak is a businessman who runs a restaurant in Vazi Street, Johannesburg, South Africa. He has been running it for 23 years.

Why did the former president Nelson Mandela's words impact Princess?

Nelson Mandela's words impacted Princess because he challenged people to take action in their own capacity to create jobs or reduce crime, which motivated her to make a difference.

What is the economic situation described in South Africa according to the script?

South Africa is described as one of Africa's most developed economies but also one of the most unequal, with a legacy of colonialism and apartheid leading to a wide gap in quality of life and high unemployment rates.

How does the script describe the situation of poverty in the UK?

The script describes the UK as having 20% of its population, or 14 million people, living in poverty despite being one of the richest countries in the world, with many relying on food banks for survival.

What is the significance of the Second Chance Cafe mentioned in the script?

The Second Chance Cafe is a place where people can pay what they feel for a meal, or not pay at all, with the aim of bringing together people from different walks of life to share a meal and support a charity.

What is the main character's dream as expressed in the script?

The main character's dream is to own a home, a house for their kids, even if it's just a small stand with two or three rooms, to ensure their safety and security.

What is the underlying message about wealth and inequality conveyed in the script?

The script conveys that extreme wealth and poverty are increasing simultaneously, leading to social and economic disparities that can have significant costs to society and individuals.

Outlines

00:00

💼 Capitalism and Poverty

The first paragraph introduces a discussion on capitalism, highlighting the belief that hard work should be rewarded. It contrasts the opportunities provided by capitalism with the despair of poverty, suggesting that poverty dehumanizes individuals. The narrative includes personal experiences of climbing the social ladder and the setbacks that can lead to falling back into poverty. The paragraph emphasizes the importance of not resenting the wealthy but rather focusing on one's own opportunities to improve one's situation.

05:01

🏛️ Inequality in South Africa

This paragraph delves into the economic disparities in South Africa, one of the most unequal countries globally. It discusses the legacy of colonialism and apartheid that has led to a significant gap in quality of life, particularly affecting the black population and women. The narrative shifts to personal stories from London, where individuals struggle with poverty despite living in one of the world's richest countries. The reliance on food banks and the erosion of state benefits are highlighted, painting a picture of the challenges faced by those in poverty.

10:03

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Overcoming Adversity

The third paragraph focuses on personal stories of overcoming adversity. It includes accounts of individuals who have faced significant challenges, such as a brain injury leading to unemployment, and the struggle to find new opportunities. The narrative also touches on the importance of self-worth and the impact of a supportive environment in helping people to perform and succeed. It emphasizes the role of education and self-acceptance in overcoming life's obstacles.

15:04

🏡 Housing and Employment Struggles

This paragraph explores the issues of housing and employment in the UK. It describes the living conditions of someone in a small, overcrowded room, subsidized by housing benefits, and the challenges faced by those trying to find affordable housing. The narrative also includes the story of a woman who is trying to support her children by starting a small business, despite the difficulties of ensuring a steady income and the pressure of providing for her family.

20:05

🚢 Wealth and Tax Evasion

The fifth paragraph discusses the perception of the wealthy and the issue of tax evasion. It contrasts the lifestyles of the rich with those who have worked hard throughout their lives but do not have the same privileges. The narrative includes commentary on the use of offshore accounts to avoid taxes and the impact of such actions on the economy and society. The paragraph also touches on the desire for a more equitable distribution of wealth and the potential for social unrest due to growing inequality.

25:08

🍰 Community and Volunteerism

The final paragraph highlights the importance of community and volunteer work in addressing poverty and social inequality. It describes the experiences of individuals who volunteer at a cafe that offers meals to those in need, promoting a sense of togetherness and shared experience. The narrative emphasizes the value of helping others and the positive impact that such actions can have on both the giver and the receiver, suggesting that community support is a key element in overcoming societal challenges.

Keywords

💡Capitalism

Capitalism is an economic system based on private ownership of the means of production and their operation for profit. In the video, the concept is discussed in the context of its potential to reward hard work and create wealth, but also its perceived downsides, such as the potential for inequality and exploitation. The speaker suggests that capitalism can lead to a 'slavery' of the poor, indicating a critique of how it may concentrate wealth and power in the hands of a few.

💡Poverty

Poverty refers to the state of being extremely poor. The video script uses this term to describe the struggles of individuals who lack sufficient resources to meet their basic needs. It is a central theme, with various speakers sharing their experiences of poverty, such as Princess, who despite her name, works in menial jobs to make ends meet, and the challenges faced by those living in areas with high unemployment and crime.

💡Inequality

Inequality denotes the unequal distribution of resources, opportunities, or privileges among individuals or groups within a society. The script touches on this concept by highlighting the growing gap between the rich and the poor, and the systemic issues that contribute to this disparity, such as the legacy of apartheid in South Africa, which has left a lasting impact on economic and social conditions.

💡Opportunity

Opportunity refers to a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something. The video script suggests that everyone should have an equal chance to succeed, and it criticizes those who resent others' success instead of focusing on their own opportunities. Sak's story exemplifies this, as he turned his life around by starting a restaurant business, creating jobs and contributing to the local economy.

💡Destiny

Destiny is the events that will necessarily happen to a person or thing in the future, often used to imply a predetermined course of events. The script questions whether being rich or poor is a matter of destiny, luck, or other factors. It challenges the idea that one's financial status is solely determined by fate, suggesting that individual actions and societal structures play a role.

💡Unemployment

Unemployment is the state of being without a job and actively seeking work. The video discusses high unemployment rates, particularly in South Africa, and the impact this has on individuals and communities. It also references Nelson Mandela's call to action for individuals to create jobs and reduce crime, emphasizing personal responsibility and initiative.

💡Wealth

Wealth refers to an abundance of valuable resources or material possessions. The video contrasts the experiences of the wealthy with those of the poor, highlighting the stark disparities in living conditions and opportunities. It also touches on the moral and social implications of wealth, such as the responsibility of the rich to contribute to society and the potential for wealth to lead to arrogance or complacency.

💡Volunteer Work

Volunteer work involves doing work for others without payment, often to help a good cause. The script mentions volunteer work as a way for individuals to give back to their communities and support those in need. For example, one speaker describes their work at a cafe that offers meals to anyone, regardless of their ability to pay, fostering a sense of community and mutual support.

💡Housing Crisis

A housing crisis refers to a situation where there is a lack of affordable housing, leading to homelessness or inadequate living conditions for many people. The video script discusses the housing crisis in Britain, where rising rents and a lack of affordable housing have forced many into poor-quality, privately rented accommodations, subsidized by housing benefits.

💡Economic Inequality

Economic inequality is the unequal distribution of income and wealth among a population. The video script addresses this issue by presenting statistics on the rich and poor in the UK and discussing the social and economic consequences of such disparities. It suggests that severe inequality can have detrimental effects on society, including increased crime and reduced social mobility.

Highlights

Belief in capitalism and the idea that hard work should be rewarded.

Critique of capitalism as a form of slavery that suppresses human potential.

The struggle of climbing the social ladder and the potential to fall back to the bottom.

The belief that everyone has a chance to succeed and resentment is unacceptable.

Discussion on the widening gap between the rich and the poor and its societal impact.

Princess's story of working hard despite being born into poverty.

Sak's entrepreneurial journey and the impact of his restaurant on the local economy.

The legacy of colonialism and apartheid in South Africa and its effects on inequality.

Liz Brewer's experience of living on benefits in an affluent area of London.

Jamie Burnham's perspective on poverty and the reliance on food banks in the UK.

The stark contrast between the number of food banks and McDonald's outlets in the UK.

The story of a carpenter's struggle with a brain injury and the loss of his trade.

A business owner's approach to motivating and educating his employees.

A mother's struggle to provide for her children and the cycle of poverty.

The high unemployment rate in South Africa and its correlation with poverty.

The housing crisis in Britain and the reliance on housing benefits to subsidize private rents.

A woman's journey from a conventional life to running a successful nightclub in Portugal.

The perception of the wealthy as arrogant and the desire for a more equitable society.

The dream of owning a home and providing security for one's children.

The importance of community and shared experiences in breaking down social barriers.

The potential for social unrest due to growing inequality and the desire for change.

Transcripts

[Music]

oh we are ready to start working

here by Friday we need to open

here yes I do believe in

capitalism that if you work

hard then you need

to benefit yes I think capitalism is

slavery to be poor me

to be a

beggar to be always

asking it kills the person in you the

human being in you so that's how costly

poverty

[Music]

is being

poor

is difficult when I'm climbing the

ladder things can happen things go wrong

and then a couple of rungs of the ladder

get broken and you fall down to the

bottom again so you've got to start

climbing again I think everybody has a

chance and it's been proved time and

time

again to sit down and resent somebody

who's got more than you in my book is

unacceptable because there's no reason

that you couldn't be in that place

because you've got every

opportunity being rich or poor is it

Destiny luck or something else entirely

with the gap between rich and poor

growing ever wider how can people

continue to see eye to eye

[Music]

[Music]

[Music]

that's is

if my name is

Princess it's a name I got from my dad

because at that time I was the

princess with the work that I do uh

washing people's laundry and filling out

Farms I'm able to pay my

rent at some point it was bad that I had

to sell some of my

stuff just to make sure that I have a

roof over my head

my mother was a kitchen girl my father

was a garden

boy when the former president Nelson

Mandela said people must stop

complaining that unemployment is high in

the country people must stop complaining

that crime is high he asked what are you

doing in your own capacity to create

jobs or C

crime that touched me and I said let me

make a difference my name is Sak I come

from Soo South Africa Township in

[Music]

Johannesburg I'm a businessman rakum

restaurant in the famous vazi street so

that has been running for 23

years sakumi means we are building a

home it's the only restaurant between

the Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Nelson

Mandela with two Nobel Peace Prize

winners all right the Archbishop used to

stay in this house next door really

all right but so far so good

guys in I can say I'm a biggest

employer it's more than thousand people

working because we've got 10 more

restaurants when we started in 2001

there was no economy in vazi

Street meaning there was no one

exchanging money people were coming in

and out

we are making a difference in the

economy of

[Music]

so South Africa is one of Africa's most

developed economies yet it's also one of

the most unequal countries in the world

the Legacy left by colonialism and

apartheid rooted in racial and spatial

segregation has created a death spiral

of in quality in income education

quality of health and household living

conditions where the black population

and black women in particular suffer the

most my name is Liz Brewer and I live in

Belgravia Belgravia is just an area of

London

you've got Buckingham Palace

nearby you've got some of the most

stately London homes

around I've been to Chelsea or

Kensington but that's only when I'm

playing

Monopoly I'm receiving benefits of

present it's about

£320 per

month which isn't that much really

compared to how much the prices have

gone up for different food and drink or

whatnot my name is Jamie Burnham and I

live in

Hackney I haven't worked for about five

and a half years

now there's poverty and there's poverty

there's there's people who have got used

to not working and being given hand out

and they've they've liked that lifestyle

it's this feeling that um they're

entitled they're entitled to being given

it without the food banks I would find

it extremely difficult to to cope I mean

take me to the nearest food bank here

show it to

me there is more food banks than there

are McDonald's in the UK which is

difficult to believe but there

is despite Britain being one of the

richest countries in the world 20% of

its population that's 14 million people

live in poverty the costs of housing

food and energy have hit people on low

incomes hardest and state benefits have

been eroded over the preceding decades

forcing almost 3 million people to rely

on 2500 food banks for

survival we need to tell volunteers it's

one R not yeah so there's plenty of it

down

here last week we had 3 380 oh no 340

collecting been collected for very good

which is the biggest we've ever had

how many people are you collecting for

oh just myself just yourself okay if you

go around that way thank you would you

like some milk um do you have normal

milk or soy milk um no just normal milk

please thank you would you like some

cereal

um you can have porridge yes I have some

porridge

please yeah

um I have um one toilet roll please

could you get it yes I can there you go

thank you thank you very

much and choose two

fruits oh see some weeks we have like

yeah this has got to

stretch pear please and another one

tangerine or a banana Tangerine please

okay

[Music]

I trained for 3 years as a carpenter's

apprentice and the day I passed I was

run over by a

[Music]

car and I had to wait 7 and 1 half years

being temporarily retired because of the

brain injury with no work I couldn't do

any heavy lifting or building work ever

again because of the brain injury so

that was the 3 years carpet ship messed

up completely and I had to go for

something else office

[Music]

work life has been good in the last 10

years I live with my three children and

my wife we've got two domestic

workers we've been in Douglas Dale for

the last 10 years it's one of those

wealthy neighborhoods of stin

I get to work seven days a week and I've

got crazy

hours I've got a penel beating shop that

has been running for 12

years from my employees I expect

performance from them when I hire them I

make it clear that I've hired them to

make more

money most of their parents are in jail

most of their parents are in shippings

meaning

Pops I have to educate them to tell them

that they are special that they

important in this country so once they

know themselves they able to perform and

look after our clients because at least

they love

[Music]

themselves I grew up with parents were

working both of them loving parents

loving grandparents

in 1985 my parents had a car

[Music]

accident I can say I lost it I could not

focus very well I was acting as if I'm

happy but when you don't have love when

you don't know what is life all about

then you become poor but later through

Reading good books I had to find myself

and accept that whether you've got

parents whether you come from divorced

family you're not special with your

problems I'm a mother of four kids three

boys and a

daughter my last Bor which is my girl

father passed on he was actually gone

down in front of his daughter at uh his

parents' home yeah just at the

[Music]

entrance she's staying with her

grandparents I can provide our money to

pay her

fees that pains me a lot because it's

like history is repeating itself

I grew up being raised by my grandmother

from my maternal

side my parents split up when I was only

4 years

old after not seeing my mom for a whole

year she came back home so she spent

with us Christmas Day and on the 31st in

the morning she went

[Music]

back only to be met by her death because

she was stepped uh by her boy friend at

around half 5 in the evening the same

day I was only turning

11 and life wasn't the same ever again

[Music]

my boys are out of school um they

sitting at home they are not

working so they came and requested me to

assist them with giving them 300 rent so

that they could stop up some cigarettes

some few stuff some sweets some chips so

that they can have a table of their own

and start selling

something sometimes they actually use

more than the profit then I have to make

sure that I find money again to invest

so it's a bit Shak from 0 to 18 I can

look after my children

but I cannot be there for them forever I

Try by all means to teach them how to

earn a living rather than to be entitled

because that is what is happening with

most of our people in this

country Democratic elections ended

apartheid in

1994 but poverty has continued to be an

enduring problem ever

since the country's unemployment rate of

30% is the highest in the

world that means 24 million adults there

are barely

surviving at the same time roughly

one-third of the total number of

millionaires on the African continent

live in South

Africa if I don't have the money to go

to the

LR I can get three buses down to my

mom's place in South London and I use my

mom's washing

[Music]

machine which is probably annoying for

my mother but helpful for me pleas hello

hello how are you C I'm all right thank

you how are

you to see

you

see well I have bled myself before for

but then I found that it's no point

blaming myself cuz I'm still trying I'm

looking to get in um as a government

paid um hgv training and license oh

really yeah it'

be well because there's something that

you're good at yeah I'm still wanting to

become employed I want to work it is

very difficult because I need to earn

enough money because I don't want to

work and then have to spend 90% of my

wages on rent and only have a tiny bit

left to live by cuz how much is your

room oh it it would work out at

238 a week a week a week room and you

could fit in this room

about 10 of the rooms that I live in is

Tiny I live in a house um which is um a

three-bedroom house but it has been made

into um seven different rooms seven

separate rooms for people to live and

the room that I live in is around

about 12T by 8T within that I could fit

my double bed in one corner there is a

lav Tre which is very small there's an

attached kitchen which I can't use

because there's no windows or

ventilation in there and within the

kitchen is where my shower is it is all

paid for by the housing benefit for me

which is lucky for me

definitely since the 1980s when those in

publicly owned Council homes were

allowed to buy them outright Britain's

housing system has become increasingly

unbalanced leading to the housing crisis

seen today more and more people who

would be eligible for social housing are

stuck privately renting unaffordable

poor quality

homes as private rental prices continue

to grow at a record high rate in Britain

many tenants rents are subsidized by

housing benefits going to private

landlords costing the government 23.5

billion pounds per year almost twice as

much as it invests in affordable

[Music]

housing I started off living a very

convent itional life I was a debutant

which in those days meant that you were

supposed to marry into park Gates as it

were and you were taught everything from

how how to run a household how to even

make a bed properly you had to have

corners to this day I do corners for the

bed having done the season I didn't want

to get married how about these

okay so having run away from home I went

to Portugal and I opened the first

discotek nightclub in the

alab it was big news and so on the

opening night believe it or not without

an airport 600 people

came so much I mean this is just

one there is so much Paul McCartney

could come and nobody bothered

him it was an extraordinary

time

enjoy I was always arranging parties for

these um seriously High Flyers Like

Richard Branson Dame Shirley Bassie

Ivana

[Music]

[Applause]

Trump I'm wearing my BL oh my God you oh

J more

what I really value and appreciate about

mom she will just Against All Odds make

things happen she works harder than

anyone I've ever met and she willut

she's the sort of person that goes into

a room and everything's kind of broken

and chaotic and you think is this going

to work and then like half an hour later

there's this incredible thing that she's

Crea

we just singing in the

r it was

[Music]

rain what's very noticeable is

especially at the moment there are

people who are in this country who have

got a lot more than people who've worked

very very hard all their life what is

unfair is a lot of them and not really

honoring that position and paying the

taxes because they're offshore they

they're able to have the advice to be

able to keep their money to keep their

super Yachts even though on paper they

may be bankrupt but there they are in

the south of France on their yachts and

and

laughing wow

oh we're in China Town I've been in here

in ages oh is we are in China

[Music]

Town extreme wealth and extreme poverty

have seen a sharp simultaneous increase

for the first time in 25 years in

Britain the richest 1% hold more wealth

than 70% of the population

such severe inequality is estimated to

cost the UK 106.2 billion pounds a year

in damage to the economy people and

their

communities in South Africa weekly

protests rooted in poverty and

joblessness are the norm the country

also experiences exceptionally High

rates of murder gender-based violence

robbery and violent

conflict I've always perceived um um

rich people as arrogant people and

somehow I've been right because majority

of the ones I know they are arrogant and

they are

miserable I don't wish to be rich I just

wish to be employed give me a job that

will allow me to live my comfortable

life that's it

[Music]

[Applause]

my dream is actually nothing else than

getting a home a house that maybe I

could say it's a home for my kids even

if I can just get a stand where I could

build that two or three room

[Music]

sh I want when I leave this earth my

kids to know that our mother builders

for us so they will be safe

[Music]

there I think I'll start one shake at a

time until I reach the three room shake

[Music]

if I going to my volunteer work I like

to go to chains Brees close to me buy a

nice cake a big cake so I could take it

along there so they can serve it for

other people other customers who's

turning out there I think it's a good

thing to

[Music]

help I got a cake for

you uh a madira party

cake on two days during the week I do

voluntary work at a cafe called Second

Chance Cafe

you can go there and you can you can pay

what you feel if you have nothing you

don't not have to pay but you can pay a

small amount or large amount um to go

towards the charity

there we're we're open to everybody so

we get a lot of people coming um from

the food bank so they can pick up food

there and then come over here and have a

hot meal or vice versa so um there's a

lot of people from the food bank but

then there's just people in general from

the from the neighborhood so that's the

whole idea is that you get all sorts of

people coming together to chat and um

share a meal together we normally

wouldn't get to do

[Music]

this and another thank you very no

worries you green and

red you

it cannot be that the rich will always

be richer

forever one day there's going to be a

revolution in this country that no one

will be able to stand if things keep on

going the way they are going people now

all want to be the same they all want to

be on this on level which can't happen I

really want to be to be helpful and

useful and and have a point you've got

to make it happen nobody else is going

to make it happen for you that's up to

you Bravo bra Bravo thank you thank you

thank you so much okay you're welcome

thank you Doctor love okay bye you bye

bye I hope them them answers were okay

for you