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This is one of the problems of allowing the accumulation of power. As an individual, I have little money to spend and the gains are distributed to all citizens.

by kartan 8y ago

This is one of the problems of allowing the accumulation of power. As an individual, I have little money to spend and the gains are distributed to all citizens. Billionaires have a lot of money to spend and they are rewarded quite directly from the policies that they affect. The best option would have been to not get here in the first place. To have stopped it when it was easier. But now that power has accumulated so much there is more reason to work for wealth re-distribution. I also interested to know how much relationship there is between the accumulation of wealth in a few and war. I see that the rise of the far right and the economic inequality are happening at the same time. But I do not know what is the relationship between them. Anyone has data on this?

innagadadavida 8y ago
If we logically extend your argument to include people in the rest of the world, then people in America will probably be as poor as them as well. Moreover, what would the environmental impact of such a policy be? Will we be consuming way more than what we are currently?
- pm90 8y ago
  > If we logically extend your argument to include people in the rest of the world, then people in America will probably be as poor as them as well. Why would you do that? The purpose of having countries is to have a limit on where the laws/policies apply to. In this case we're talking specifically about the US. > Moreover, what would the environmental impact of such a policy be? Will we be consuming way more than what we are currently? If anything, its likely to be better for the environment. I don't think income equality means that people will just be buying more stuff (although that is likely to happen to a certain extent, just not enough to have meaningful impact); the way it would look is access to better services like healthcare, education etc.
danemacaulay 8y ago
Picketty discussed the relationship between wealth inequality and the world wars. Specifically, he notes how these wars served the function of destroying wealth accumulation centers and effectively redistributing them. He cynically notes that if we don't do anything that we may end up seeing another war do it for us...
- majewsky 8y ago
  I'm skeptical that we'll see another world war. Or if we do, it'll be over really quick. Because whoever ends up being enemies of China will be cut off from access to advanced electronics, which are quickly becoming more and more important in warfare. (I'm not saying that there are no fabs anywhere outside China, but if e.g. Germany decides to start WW3, they'll have a hard time producing enough electronic components given the existing foundries in the country.)
wu-ikkyu 8y ago
>I also interested to know how much relationship there is between the accumulation of wealth in a few and war It's obvious from history that war is a way for powerful people to accumulate/consolidate power and money

by kartan 8y ago

innagadadavida 8y ago

If we logically extend your argument to include people in the rest of the world, then people in America will probably be as poor as them as well. Moreover, what would the environmental impact of such a policy be? Will we be consuming way more than what we are currently?

pm90 8y ago
> If we logically extend your argument to include people in the rest of the world, then people in America will probably be as poor as them as well. Why would you do that? The purpose of having countries is to have a limit on where the laws/policies apply to. In this case we're talking specifically about the US. > Moreover, what would the environmental impact of such a policy be? Will we be consuming way more than what we are currently? If anything, its likely to be better for the environment. I don't think income equality means that people will just be buying more stuff (although that is likely to happen to a certain extent, just not enough to have meaningful impact); the way it would look is access to better services like healthcare, education etc.

danemacaulay 8y ago

Picketty discussed the relationship between wealth inequality and the world wars. Specifically, he notes how these wars served the function of destroying wealth accumulation centers and effectively redistributing them. He cynically notes that if we don't do anything that we may end up seeing another war do it for us...

majewsky 8y ago
I'm skeptical that we'll see another world war. Or if we do, it'll be over really quick. Because whoever ends up being enemies of China will be cut off from access to advanced electronics, which are quickly becoming more and more important in warfare. (I'm not saying that there are no fabs anywhere outside China, but if e.g. Germany decides to start WW3, they'll have a hard time producing enough electronic components given the existing foundries in the country.)

wu-ikkyu 8y ago

>I also interested to know how much relationship there is between the accumulation of wealth in a few and war It's obvious from history that war is a way for powerful people to accumulate/consolidate power and money