Chuck, I'm so glad you enjoy the posts! Regarding your question, I think by italicizing the word "earn" I was trying to reference something more along the lines of "deserving," not literal earning. I'm not going to get into the issue of whether the money is theirs or whether it lawfully became theirs. I guess it's more about a sense of entitlement—the idea that "this is my right." I hope that makes it more clear!

Angela, thanks for the many really good thoughts. I especially like how you paraphrased the way Jesus looks at things: “Look what you’re doing! Turn away from this, and toward love.â€ I still feel like a change in policies and taxes are a necessary part of fixing this, but it's not going to happen without this piece: "What’s needed is a change of heart–a world where it’s just unthinkable to let someone suffer while you live in comfort." That's the attitude I want to send my kids into the world with.

xmartinj, this is a great, important perspective to bring into the conversation: "As soon as I say $25mil a year is ludicrous, I have to remember that most of the world’s population would look at my life with the same incredulity." Yesterday I tweeted a #lovelist item sparked by your comment and others: "I love being able to share something I'm pondering, and then watch all kinds of wisdom &amp; thought pour in from others."

Gen, I guess what you're pointing out about it not being a new problem, and being even worse globally, is exactly what I worry about—that we'll just get accustomed to this being "the way the world works," and we'll grow complacent. Your take on New York living makes a lot of sense to me, but I've only visited several times and talked to friends who live there, I've never lived there myself. Any New Yorkers out there want to comment? :) And finally, I completely agree with your last paragraph—having a bit to worry about gives you a creative edge. At the same time, I believe everyone finds something to worry about. Some people are just worrying what to feed their kids for dinner while others are worrying that they don't have the right shoes to go with that dress.  

Linwood's Girl, I think I could stand to translate a lot of the anger and frustration in my life into sadness and disappointment. It would serve me well. I tend to get worked up, though. Maybe the good in that is it spurs a post and conversation like this? Thanks for jumping in!