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Many people work hard and are also denied gratification, yet they aren't fortunate enough to enjoy the easy money derived from capital gains, since they don't h

Many people work hard and are also denied gratification, yet they aren't fortunate enough to enjoy the easy money derived from capital gains, since they don't hold much capital. Also there is a difference between rich people and wealthy people. Wealthy people don't work hard, relatively speaking, per dollar earned.

RickJWagner 8y ago
Sure. There can be many reasons why somebody doesn't end up with a pile of cash. They might have had a catastrophic illness, or made sub-optimal investments, or maybe got scammed. But that's no reason to penalize the people who have done the work, followed the rules, played their cards well and had a little luck. They deserve to keep what they've earned.
- state_less 8y ago
  I'd argue that many people have done the work, followed the rules, played their cards the best they could and they just were dealt an okay or even bad hand. Given they've done everything we could reasonably expect they should, let's make sure they are made whole with the amazing good fortune the winners have received by having everyone play an honest game.
  - RickJWagner 8y ago
    I don't think we'll ever be able to succeed at that. We should work hard to strive for equality of opportunity. We should avoid trying to guarantee equality of end result. (Because it's an impossible task.) Summary: Everybody should get a fair shot. Everybody won't end up with equal results.
    - state_less 8y ago
      > Everybody should get a fair shot. Everybody won't end up with equal results. Everyone is not going to get a fair shot, since some will be born with more inherited capital (social, financial, etc...) . I'm not arguing everyone get equal results in the end. I'm suggesting that society will function better if folks are made whole. In other words, they have basic needs met and this standard increases with the increasing wealth of the country.

RickJWagner 8y ago

Sure. There can be many reasons why somebody doesn't end up with a pile of cash. They might have had a catastrophic illness, or made sub-optimal investments, or maybe got scammed. But that's no reason to penalize the people who have done the work, followed the rules, played their cards well and had a little luck. They deserve to keep what they've earned.

state_less 8y ago
I'd argue that many people have done the work, followed the rules, played their cards the best they could and they just were dealt an okay or even bad hand. Given they've done everything we could reasonably expect they should, let's make sure they are made whole with the amazing good fortune the winners have received by having everyone play an honest game.
- RickJWagner 8y ago
  I don't think we'll ever be able to succeed at that. We should work hard to strive for equality of opportunity. We should avoid trying to guarantee equality of end result. (Because it's an impossible task.) Summary: Everybody should get a fair shot. Everybody won't end up with equal results.
  - state_less 8y ago
    > Everybody should get a fair shot. Everybody won't end up with equal results. Everyone is not going to get a fair shot, since some will be born with more inherited capital (social, financial, etc...) . I'm not arguing everyone get equal results in the end. I'm suggesting that society will function better if folks are made whole. In other words, they have basic needs met and this standard increases with the increasing wealth of the country.