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I don't understand why there is so much focus on income inequality. Income inequality doesn't matter. It's not the problem; it's only a symptom of the real prob
by jondubois 10y ago
I don't understand why there is so much focus on income inequality. Income inequality doesn't matter. It's not the problem; it's only a symptom of the real problem which is wealth inequality.
If you work REALLY HARD in an area which takes 20 years to master and after doing so you end up earning $200K per year, then you probably deserve it. It is hard getting to such point; you have to constantly plan your career, educate yourself and put yourself through a lot of emotional/psychological trauma for a very long time to get that stage.
On the other hand, if you inherited $6 million worth of company stocks from your parents and you earn $200K in dividends each year from those shares and you don't work at all, then you probably don't deserve that income.
... And somewhere in between these two extremes, there are entrepreneurs; who work really hard and take huge risks to create a successful company (and often fail), but when they do succeed, they tend to get disproportional payouts.
- blahi 10y agoAnd why is it a problem? The "poor people" now live better than any other point in history. Everyone now lives better than any other point in history. More educated, less crime, better living conditions, better nutrition. The only problem I see is jealousy. Poor people are jealous of what rich people have and want to take it.
- Retra 10y agoThat is an extremely insulting thing to say. And even if it were true, if jealousy is a barrier to happiness, why shouldn't it be seriously addressed? What is the point of human society if you're just going to casually discard the concerns of the vast majority of people?
- blahi 10y agoBecause you should address the jealousy instead. You don't change because of somebody's jealousy. You don't study less because somebody else can't achieve the same results. Jealousy is a problem with the individual, not a problem with society. They are jealous because of their own shortcomings, not because someone else is successful. They just channel their self loathing into hating the successful. You can't cure that by taking away money from the rich.
- enraged_camel 10y ago>>And why is it a problem? Wealth inequality leads to inequality in political representation. Think about the massive amount of influence the elite have on our politics. And in virtually all cases, they use that influence to better their own situation and take away opportunity from others. The poor having fridges and air conditioning does not matter when the entire system is rigged against them.
- blahi 10y agoWhat is rigged against them? Do people, in general, live 100x times better than before or not? And don't start that crap about political representation. The elite always has had disproportionate influence over politics and it always will.