Is social inequality addictive? ... by Daniel Dorling

http://policypress.wordpress.com/2010/04/16/is-social-inequality-addictive/

Daniel Dorling asserts that we, as humans, crave inequality- that it is, in fact, addictive. Explaining that the most unequal countries may be among the most rich, but that other countries are set up much differently. Those other countries are home to people who live longer, consume and pollute less, experience less crime, trust each other more, stay with families more often, invent more things, eat less meat, take less drugs, drink less and so on.  His portrayal of these "rich, equitable" countries make the United States sounds like a sort of villain compared to these utopias. An anecdote is placed at the introduction of the blog in order to give the reader something to connect the author's point to. How is inequality as addictive as smoking? Dorling's use of humor such as "Even the trains run on time more often!" is an example of those utopias again. The concluding paragraph asks several rhetorical questions mostly having to do with America's intelligence level. Each rhetorical device persuades the reader to think about how desensitized to inequality they are personally.

The author's tone throughout is somewhat degrading on one's own country. The tone gets lighter as the author describes places that are not the United States or the United Kingdom (the countries with the most inequality). His purpose in writing this blog is to make his readers aware that social inequality is not normal, we are just so used to it that we don't bat an eyelash when we see these inequalities not being stood up for. The audience is meant to be for a young reader, teen-aged to mid-20's. The author's syntax and word choice is slightly more conversational, which reads well to younger non-professionals. Dorley wants to help his readers stop overlooking inequality.