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> So basically, some way to prevent wealth from being passed across generations? That wouldn't help much. The children of the wealthy benefit from connections

> So basically, some way to prevent wealth from being passed across generations? That wouldn't help much. The children of the wealthy benefit from connections obtained while their parents are still alive. They receive a head start from birth. By the time they are in line to receive an inheritance, they have already had more opportunities for success than the general public.

nsajko 6y ago
Your first sentence does not follow from your argumentation.
chii 6y ago
> The children of the wealthy benefit from connections obtained while their parents are still alive. They receive a head start from birth. what about the children of parents who has good genes? If a child is athletic/healthy/good-looking, because their parents had good genes (and the good luck for a good combination), do you also resent that the child has a head-start? parents helping the children get ahead is natural, and should be encouraged imho.
- lilactown 6y ago
  The difference is that we can easily redistribute wealth. It is much more difficult to redistribute "health." IMO our goal shouldn't be for everyone to be objectively equal in all ways, but rather to be provided enough resources and opportunities to live a good life. Like on the opposite end of your example, if I was born with a congenital condition, or became injured, I should still be able to live a good life with my needs met and opportunities to do good work. The fact that we don't have that today, due to lack of a social safety net and accessibility, is a problem.
- rualca 6y ago
  > what about the children of parents who has good genes? That's an absurd comparison. Children of parents who are poor and don't have connections can still compete, but simply cannot benefit from their parents trafficking influence. If you really want to go with a sports metaphor, your example is like barring children from having a fair shot at sports because their parents aren't rubbing elbows with the coaches.
  - chii 6y ago
    > don't have connections can still compete children of parents who don't have inheritance can still compete economically. So no, it's not an absurd comparison between inherited wealth and inherited genes.

nsajko 6y ago

Your first sentence does not follow from your argumentation.

chii 6y ago

> The children of the wealthy benefit from connections obtained while their parents are still alive. They receive a head start from birth. what about the children of parents who has good genes? If a child is athletic/healthy/good-looking, because their parents had good genes (and the good luck for a good combination), do you also resent that the child has a head-start? parents helping the children get ahead is natural, and should be encouraged imho.

lilactown 6y ago
The difference is that we can easily redistribute wealth. It is much more difficult to redistribute "health." IMO our goal shouldn't be for everyone to be objectively equal in all ways, but rather to be provided enough resources and opportunities to live a good life. Like on the opposite end of your example, if I was born with a congenital condition, or became injured, I should still be able to live a good life with my needs met and opportunities to do good work. The fact that we don't have that today, due to lack of a social safety net and accessibility, is a problem.
rualca 6y ago
> what about the children of parents who has good genes? That's an absurd comparison. Children of parents who are poor and don't have connections can still compete, but simply cannot benefit from their parents trafficking influence. If you really want to go with a sports metaphor, your example is like barring children from having a fair shot at sports because their parents aren't rubbing elbows with the coaches.
- chii 6y ago
  > don't have connections can still compete children of parents who don't have inheritance can still compete economically. So no, it's not an absurd comparison between inherited wealth and inherited genes.