" It is plainly contrary to the law of nature, however defined, that children should command old men, fools wise men, and that the privileged few should gorge themselves with superfluities while the starving multitude are deprived of the basic necessities of life ".
Rousseau : Discourse on the Origins of Inequality
In feudal times there was no modern industry, and the methods of agricultural production were so primitive ( the bullock used for tilling the land in India, the buffalo in China, and the horse in Europe) that so little wealth was generated that only a handful of people ( kings, and aristocrats) could be rich, while 99.9% people had to be poor. When the cake is so small, very few people can eat it.
This situation has drastically changed in modern times. Now a unique situation has been created in world history, which never existed before. Modern industry is so powerful and so big that enough wealth can be generated by it that now no one need be poor, and everyone can be given a decent life, with proper employment, sufficient incomes, healthcare, good education, housing, etc
Despite this situation, the fact remains that 75% of the world's population or so is poor. The 21st century will therefore witness the struggles all over the world of this 75% for a better and decent life.
