From the point of view of the shareholders, yes it is. As they see it, they have invested their money, and if the company succeeds in manufacturing the target numbers of cars and robots, then they themselves will receive financial rewards. Yes, they have some money, but they want more of it. As the particular Chief Executive involved is simultaneously involved in so many other companies and enterprises, the shareholders need him to stay on track, to keep focused on the car company, to make more money for them.
It is possible, at the present time in history, to amass enormous fortunes. You need to be enterprising, to be hard-working, to have imagination, to take initiative, and probably need also to invest money – not to mention have a modicum of luck! - in order to make this sort of fortune. As a general rule, you need to spend money to make money, so it also helps if you have significant wealth to start with. In previous periods of history, wealth might be generated through conquest, through land ownership, through social position, or through dishonesty. But currently, by setting up manufacturing enterprises, by offering services, or by creating multiple sales outlets, an individual can create the possibility of amassing huge wealth in a relatively short time.
But is it right that some people amass such huge personal fortunes that they can entertain themselves by buying up luxury yachts, sports teams, golf courses, hotels and multiple business enterprises, while other people have no homes, no employment, no security, no support and not enough food? Is it right that some parts of the world enjoy great wealth and then complain when other people, who have very little, risk life and limb to reach those same parts of the world? Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, seemed to speak with the Voice of God when He addressed those with wealth, saying:
“O Ye Rich Ones on Earth! The poor in your midst are My trust; guard ye My trust, and be not intent only on your own ease.” Clearly, in Bahá’u’lláh’s eyes, the rich should be protecting and helping the poor. In the same way, Bahá’u’lláh, again speaking with the Voice of God, says:
“Tell the rich of the midnight sighing of the poor, lest heedlessness lead them into the path of destruction, and deprive them of the Tree of Wealth. To give and to be generous are attributes of Mine; well is it with him that adorneth himself with My virtues.” Bahá’u’lláh is not denying rich people their comfort, but is encouraging them to be generous, and to share their wealth with others.
So the Bahá’í position is that wealth can legitimately and honestly be created, but it should be shared more equally. Bahá’u’lláh’s son, Abdu’l-Bahá, said:
“Certainly, some being enormously rich and others lamentably poor, an organisation is necessary to control and improve this state of affairs. It is important to limit riches, as it is also of importance to limit poverty. Either extreme is not good.” This was said over 100 years ago, and since then more and more wealth has accumulated in a smaller percentage of the population. Unlimited wealth for some leads to deprivation for others, and even those who possess it may find that it becomes a burden. Therefore, it is necessary to bring in laws designed to share wealth more evenly. Abdu’l-Bahá explained, “There must be special laws made, dealing with these extremes of riches and of want.” In effect, in just the same way that some countries now have a minimum wage, there needs to be some sort of ceiling put on personal wealth, some sort of maximum income.
There are other Bahá’í teachings, too, which are designed to ensure a fairer distribution of wealth. One of these is profit-sharing: “The appropriation of excessive wealth by a few individuals, notwithstanding the needs of the masses, is unfair and unjust… The best course is to seek moderation [and] to allot [the workers] a share of the total profits of the factory.” There is also voluntary giving by the wealthy: “And among the teachings of Bahá’u’lláh is voluntary sharing of one’s property with others among mankind. This voluntary sharing is greater than equality… man should not prefer himself to others, but rather should sacrifice his life and property for others.” There are some very wealthy people who have given large quantities of their fortune away to help others, but they are the exception rather than the rule. For the Bahá’ís there is also a voluntary form of tax, in which any individual whose wealth increases by a certain amount pays 19% of this increase to go to the community funds.
Many of the Bahá’í teachings which are relevant to a fairer economic system would be difficult to implement at present, because there is no institution which is capable of introducing universal change. The world is divided up into self-governing territories, each of which can make its own laws, even if they have a detrimental effect on others. A law designed to put a cap on gross personal wealth has to be world-wide. Otherwise, the super-rich merely move their money from one jurisdiction to another. The Bahá’í teachings advocate the institution of a world administration which can implement world-wide economic laws and bring about social justice. We also need society to see the world in spiritual terms, with the goal of each person being to grow spiritually, rather than the accumulation of material wealth. Everyone would then see that justice requires that everyone should be able to live in reasonable comfort.
Both as individuals and as society, we need to have spiritual and social goals in order for the world to develop in a balanced way. For that to happen, we not only need to limit poverty, we also need to limit riches.
