Confucius Quote of the Day

After reading this week's blog question, this Confucius quote immediately popped into my head:

In a country well governed, poverty is something to be ashamed of. In a country badly governed, wealth is something to be ashamed of.

I agree that in the discussion of social arrangements wealth and poverty are essential. A stable middle class is the backbone of social mobility and societal opportunities. Sizable gaps between the rich and poor can espouse corruption on side of the rich, and anger, violence, and a civic maelstrom on side of the poor.

As Confucius notes, in a nation which prides itself in functional and orderly governing systems, poverty can be regarded a national failure. If all systems work well, how come some citizens lack the essentials of life? Why do they vie for food and shelter?

(The idea of retaining wealth in a country badly governed aims at a separate point. That is, ones to become affluent in chaos and disorder have most likely obtained their status via immoral means.)

However, I wonder what other factors could be used to "evaluate social arrangements." I guess an evaluation of a healthy society would also include the morality of its members. But morality is often tricky and relative.

And... what are "social arrangements," exactly, anyway?