5 ms·

What's the solution then?

by christiansakai 6y ago

ashneo76 6y ago
Although the author is being sarcastic, but the solution is to "just be rich, already"
speedgoose 6y ago
I don't think there is a good short-term solution, otherwise you would already know about it.
frashelaw 6y ago
Large scale wealth redistribution!
- EvilEy3 6y ago
  Yes! USSA, for motherland! For Stalin!
marvin 6y ago
I don't agree with the rebuttal - it seems like the author is picking a fight that's more of a woke-style personal attack than addressing problems that follow from wealth inequality in the US today. Knowing Paul Graham from years of reading his essays and tweets, he's very much aware that there's many people suffering in the current system. But that isn't the focus of the essay, and in today's climate you can't get away with writing about the "priviliged" without spending three paragraphs on disclaimers first. PG didn't put in the disclaimers, so he gets pummelled. Acknowledging that the USA has horrible problems with poverty, where wealth inequality superficially appears to be part of the problem, I have the following suggestions: -Universal healthcare -Social safety net in terms of indefinite unemployment support and disability pay, so health issues and unlucky upbringing or genetics doesn't lead to destitution and permanently being in the world's shittiest negotiating position. Maybe basic income. -Finance the above by taxing everyone, including the rich, at a similar percentage as the middle class, designing a tax system that avoids the big loopholes. A wealth tax may be a part of that. This ensures that lack of wealth doesn't translate into de facto slavery and lack of power over one's autonomy and personal life. It sets a minimum. I live in Norway, where total taxation is >50% of income on average, we have a 0.85% annual tax on the total value of all assets, capital gains tax is 32%, universal healthcare, de facto basic income system where everyone uncapable of otherwise either get a public-sector administrative job or disability pay. We have imported the same debate that the author is fronting. This is ludicrous. We don't have a problem with poverty. We have implemented the dream of the American left. Wealth inequality is only a problem if you find it morally problematic in itself. And yet people are still complaining about it. At that point, it's only about envy and not trying to make the world better.
wp381640 6y ago
In the US you could start with the carried interest rule and the capital gains rate

What's the solution then?

ashneo76 6y ago

Although the author is being sarcastic, but the solution is to "just be rich, already"

speedgoose 6y ago

I don't think there is a good short-term solution, otherwise you would already know about it.

frashelaw 6y ago

Large scale wealth redistribution!

EvilEy3 6y ago
Yes! USSA, for motherland! For Stalin!

marvin 6y ago

I don't agree with the rebuttal - it seems like the author is picking a fight that's more of a woke-style personal attack than addressing problems that follow from wealth inequality in the US today. Knowing Paul Graham from years of reading his essays and tweets, he's very much aware that there's many people suffering in the current system. But that isn't the focus of the essay, and in today's climate you can't get away with writing about the "priviliged" without spending three paragraphs on disclaimers first. PG didn't put in the disclaimers, so he gets pummelled. Acknowledging that the USA has horrible problems with poverty, where wealth inequality superficially appears to be part of the problem, I have the following suggestions: -Universal healthcare -Social safety net in terms of indefinite unemployment support and disability pay, so health issues and unlucky upbringing or genetics doesn't lead to destitution and permanently being in the world's shittiest negotiating position. Maybe basic income. -Finance the above by taxing everyone, including the rich, at a similar percentage as the middle class, designing a tax system that avoids the big loopholes. A wealth tax may be a part of that. This ensures that lack of wealth doesn't translate into de facto slavery and lack of power over one's autonomy and personal life. It sets a minimum. I live in Norway, where total taxation is >50% of income on average, we have a 0.85% annual tax on the total value of all assets, capital gains tax is 32%, universal healthcare, de facto basic income system where everyone uncapable of otherwise either get a public-sector administrative job or disability pay. We have imported the same debate that the author is fronting. This is ludicrous. We don't have a problem with poverty. We have implemented the dream of the American left. Wealth inequality is only a problem if you find it morally problematic in itself. And yet people are still complaining about it. At that point, it's only about envy and not trying to make the world better.

wp381640 6y ago

In the US you could start with the carried interest rule and the capital gains rate