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but, in spite of that, all evidence seems to suggest that the divide between rich and poor is getting bigger and bigger.

• moultano 16y ago
  If the rate of economic growth is increasing, even if the time gap is constant, you would expect that to happen. (Not saying that is what's happening, just wanted to point out that your two statements could be consistent.)
• chc 16y ago
  This might be of interest to you: http://www.paulgraham.com/gap.html http://www.paulgraham.com/gap.html
  • dotcoma 16y ago
    To a point, I agree with PG. It's perfectly ok with me to have superstars getting paid like, well, superstars. I certainly do not want everybody to be equally rich, or, much more likely, equally poor (let's call this "equality of arrival"). But I would like a more equal society at the starting line ("equality at the start"), and not only for reasons of justice, but because a system of haves and have-nots that in fact makes it much harder for the sons and daughters of the latter to make it is also depriving society of people who could make a contribution, and sometimes never get the chance to. As a result, society will end up being poorer. I do not at all think it is by chance, as a counter argument, that countries and societies where women, who make up 50% of the population, are on a more equal standing with men - think Scandinavia, or Holland, or Germany - are also among the richest, not to mention happiest and most peaceful, in the world.
• tomjen3 16y ago
  I fail to see what relevance that claim has to the discussion at hand.