One of the things that is symbolized in the Seven Plagues that Moses and Aaron administered as a means of persuasion is that inequality has real consequences and those consequences will strike against the richest as well as the poorest, eventually that will be the case no matter how long the richest among us can shield themselves from those consequences. I think the Seven Plagues in the story are an excellent abbreviation for all of the consequences we see around us today AND THE BRILLIANCE OF THE STORY IS THAT IT PROVES THAT EVEN THE HARSHEST LESSONS OF EXPERIENCE WILL BE IGNORED OR DENIED BY THOSE WHO ARE PRIVILEGED. As Jesus put it, it's harder than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than it is for the rich to twig onto moral obligations and to carry through with them.
Yeah, but if we just punish the "right people" (you know who they are) we won't have these national political problems anymore!
Which, it is worth point out, is the "lesson" of World War I. World War II was the lesson that you destroy the power of war making countries to make war, and then you treat them like human beings who are part of the human family of the globe. We restored the fortunes of Germany AND Japan, after all. Neither lesson directly translates to national governance, but the lessons there apply to the idea just punishment will set everything right.
Or at least satisfy our bloodlust.
One small reason why I denounce the "LOCK 'EM UP!" cries of the heart from either, or any, side.
(There's a lot more there to consider; but one idea per post, eh?)
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