A New Tyranny

As a new poll shows that an "unprecedented" number of Americans worry about losing their job, Pope Francis released an apostolic exhortation which, in part, addresses concerns about poverty and growing economic inequality.

As long as the problems of the poor are not radically resolved by rejecting the absolute autonomy of markets and financial speculation and by attacking the structural causes of inequality, no solution will be found for the world's problems or, for that matter, to any problems.  Inequality is the root of social ills.

Update (November 29):  Eugene Robinson reflects on the Pope's message.

Update (May 9, 2014):  Pope Francis calls for the redistribution of wealth to the poor.

Update (June 14, 2014):  In an interview, Pope Francis expresses concern about high youth unemployment and an economic system based on "the idolatry of money".

[W]e are discarding an entire generation to maintain an economic system that can’t hold up anymore, a system that to survive must make war, as the great empires have always done.