I have been thinking about disparity a bit of late, as I have been seeing a grand scale of it here in China where I've been for the past couple of weeks. It's a painful thing to see. Not just in the sense that I just feel pity for abject poor surrounded by vast wealth, but I don't like to see it. It's jarring. It's not something I want to take a picture of.

That sounds odd and callous, but I don't mean it to be. I'm trying to put a point on to it. There is something about disparity that transcends the lack of money, or maybe even the concept of money. We are social animals, and the wealth gap has a psychological effect that goes beyond a comparison of finances.

I'm tired and travelled, but I need to give more thought to disparity outside of means. I spent a couple of days in the poor countryside, almost removed from signs of wealth, in places where there are no signs of poverty, and in places where wealth and poverty are side-by-side, always interacting. Living near Detroit, I can see it at home as well, but not often at such scales, and varied in such short order.

This is what I have at the moment: I think different classes need different first-rate dreams. Disparity seems to cast a shadow on all but the highest of aspirations.

Disparity itself could be a economic sink. At a certain size, it could be a disincentive. Insulation of wealth between classes might be a lie, but it might be a gift too.

I need to think more on this, but wanted to get these thoughts down.