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Generally, in the realm of economics, I do not trust any political dispensation that places wealth redistribution above wealth creation. The accumulation of productive capital remains the most sustainable pathway out of poverty. Redistribution merely reallocates existing wealth, wealth that must first be created. The peculiarity with developed nations, however, is that successive generations focus on the by-product of capital accumulation and, disproportionately, its imbalances. Proximity to prosperity obscures the graver historical disparities that preceded it, blinding these newlings to the doggedness, constancy, and sacrifice it took to bridge these gaps. It's why wealth redistribution occupies such a prominent place in the political manifestos of developed nations, and why it readily finds audience in the upper echelons of society, who are more than willing to fund their own demise. In underdeveloped nations, folks just want more jobs. More money. More capital. Wealth redistribution is indulged merely to pass time. What wealth? Ultimately, it is the abundance of productive capital that best guarantees political stability. When productive capacity stagnates, capital formation falters, then it's everyone for themselves. This is the story of post-colonial Africa; an anthology of poverty. Is wealth redistribution important? Only as critical as a shoe is to a leg. It can be a complement, at best; never the principal. The leg will always come first. It's the leg that walks not the shoe. Wealth creation must precede and supersede wealth redistribution in the hierarchy of national priorities if political stability is to be sustained. ALWAYS.

Deep conversation with buddies yesterday: Mans said we are getting to the age where its becoming clearer who put in the work and who didn't. That it's not just a money thing, but even our in networks. The conversations we are having: what have you done with life? Are we referring to the things we have done, or the things we could have? He knotted his fist, said, in fact, not achieving the dream is not the biggest issue. It's never having tried. Said he is no longer even concerned with being the biggest artist in Africa anymore, but when his son asks: "what did you do?", he wants to be able to point him to the evidence of his attempts: That I did one, two, three, and there they are. That's more important than the dream. The things you actually do, not the aspirations. I said, brother, you know there are disadvantages in life, like not having enough resources? Poor people work hard. They are just unlucky. Dude, almost lost it. Said, first, I don't know who peddled this notion that privileged folks don't work hard but that aside, "Okuna, how many people do you have in your contact?" I said hundreds. He said, "if you were dying right now, would you call them to rescue you?" I said, yes. He said, have you reached out to any of them for your dreams? And not just to talk about dreams but to actually be a part of it? I said, well, you know, everyone has something they are dealing with. I wouldn't want to impose. He said, exactly! You don't want it bad enough, my brother. You are not dying to get your dreams. You still care about perceptions. And that's the problem, we build networks based on perceived and anticipated values we will never have if we don't ask now. I said, Brother, it's not that people don't ask They ask and alll they get is a no. Man banged his fist on the table, said, "Good! Delete number! Next!" I said, Brother, you can't just discard folks because they refused to give you the value you wanted. They have other values. He asked, what value? I said, "Conversations. Sex. Future opportunities." He said, "Okuna, you are dying. Having a dream, potential... is dying. A little everyday. The lights are going off, my man, and you still want to have sex, Okuna? What good are evening conversations when you're drowning, man?" He said, "In fact, I hate to hear the word potential in adults because its definitive proof you didn't try hard enough. You didn't want it bad enough. It's better if we didn't know you had potential!" He went on: Okuna, do you know how sad it is to see a guy who you know to be excellent, failing at life? Because of the sanctity they assign potential? He said, In fact, I want you to lose people, man. I wish more men lost people. So you can lose the illusion of safety that keeps you floating. Every man should get to a place where he knows it's just him, his dreams, and his God! That's when his journey really takes off! He concluded, and said: "You know, Okuna, it may not be your fault that you don't get to your dreams. But poor, cursed, unlucky; what evidence exists that you actually put your life on the line for the things you say you wanted? The things you say you deserved?"