Lao Tsu wisdom: The reason people starve is because their rulers tax them excessively.

Lao Tsu (Laozi)

Lao Tsu wrote the Tao Te Ching around the 4th century BC. It is a very famous book in the Chinese civilization.

One section says this:

The reason people starve
Is because their rulers tax them excessively.
They are difficult to govern
Because their rulers have their own ends in mind.

This is so true to our modern world.

The people starve because their democratic rulers confiscated their citizen wealth. Simply returning citizen dividends back to citizens will eradicate poverty in many countries.

Follow-up
Lao Tsu wisdom II: Increasing inequality is human. Reducing inequality is heavenly.