in one study, the compound annual growth rate of millionaires globally is 7+% vs. 1+% in the global population. the proportion of millionaires around us is growing much faster, yet i doubt we've achieved such siginificant success in mineral extraction, agriculture efficiency (on a worldwide basis), while consumption continues to grow unabetted due to the widespread acceptance of consumerism as a norm/way of life. i think it's also a worrying sign that the paper/fiat money economy, built such that the inflation assumption seems to be an unavoidable aspect of life, could merely be a house of cards.

recall reading buffett, and one section somewhere vaguely mentioned that in order to keep pace with inflation (and taking into consideration economic contractions etc), you Had to invest in decent companies. and have been having on-off discussions with medical friends (and even a quick comment from some doctors i've visited) that medical bills could eat you alive.

the economic system is (unintentionally?) designed to pauperise us if we're not careful!