A lot of negative commentary on Banks, how they exploit the poor, and foster inequality. Here is an alternative perspective.
Banks make profits. They pay tax on those profits which enable the government to provide social services to its citizens. Banks employ people, who themselves pay tax which go towards gov coffers. Banks provide capital to businesses and individuals giving them the opportunity to grow and prosper. Banks are the financial arteries of an economic system. Banks pay dividends to shareholders who also pay tax on those dividends. For some, dividend income effectively provides them with a "pension", allowing them to NOT become a drain on the public purse. This is how a free and open capitalist democracy works.
Is there inequality..? Absolutely YES. Is it brought about by banks..?, Absolutely NO. To explain how inequality arises under capitalism, you have to understand "surplus value" espoused originally by Karl Marx, and more recently, value and distribution theories developed by the neo-Ricardians. You won't find any enlightenment on "inequality" on a HC forum, even though many come on here to whinge incessantly about it, linking it to "greed", and "selfishness".
As with any man-made system, capitalism is not perfect, but it beats the hell out of the alternatives. Get used to it or go and live in China, or, the DPRK, which incidently is one of the poorest countries in the world.
Expand
(20min delay)