@Darth:
Well, we do see quite a few of countries aligned and being part of WG. Those whose populace is actively being opressed in any way is not that big, honestly.
Or for that matter, there are quite few places where citizens enjoy their elite being there, like Alabasta.
All I'm saying is that your statement is an absolute, and thus it becomes untrue.
Oh Man, I thought you were asking me from a real world perspective.
How exactly did you arrive at your conclusion? Do you know the exact population of the OP world? Was there a census that I missed? For example, the world population was estimated to be around 350 million or so in the 1400s. By todays standards that isn't a lot, but let's assume that 350 million (heck I'll even give you 100 million) is the entire population of the OP world. Are you going to tell me that more than 1% of that is elite in OP?
My statement about the 99% vs 1% actually makes a lot of sense even in OP world. You're right about Alabasta, and it's kind of like England and their monarchy. Some are okay with it.
Also, I don't mean visible oppression because that is the most obvious. I mean oppression by power and privilege. The definition of power is: the capacity or ability to direct or influence the behavior of others or the course of events. The definition of privilege is: a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people.
The WG has both power and privilege. They have the Marines, technology, the newspapers/ media, and the knowledge (think void century) and they use that to their advantage. Who benefits from all that?… The Tenriybito aka the 1%, and the Gorosei aka the Elite of the Elite.
" World Nobles… Slaves... Human shops... Against the "purity" of these "upper classes", the villains of the world look positively humane in comparison. It's because the world's in the hands of scum like them that it's all screwed to hell... I mean, we're not the nicest of guys, but at least we're honest about it. **"
- Eustass Kid**