4 ms·

It's not an issue of data. Wealth inequality by itself doesn't do anything bad, if the bottom can still afford what they need. It's a matter of having a realist

It's not an issue of data. Wealth inequality by itself doesn't do anything bad, if the bottom can still afford what they need. It's a matter of having a realistic mindset and sense of self determination. A poor person today in the west has it drastically better than any poor person ever in history; they have a better quality of life as a poor person, and they have mind-bogglingly high levels of income mobility, in a historical sense. No other time in history could someone so easily go from poor to middle class. So when people spend so much mental energy complaining about how things aren't "fair", okay, sure, but you could instead just improve your situation. There will always be poor people, but an individual will not always be poor. We are not yet anywhere close to a situation where the highest expected value of an individual's time is to complain (instigating revolt).

yunohn 4y ago
Look, this is really a pathetic line of argument. If you’re selling self-help books, sure go ahead. This discussion is about minimum wage, wealth gaps, and relative compensation of CEOs. You do realise that? If you think everything is perfect, feel free to ignore such threads. The status quo exists and doesn’t need your support. Saying that working class people can just work harder and get higher paying jobs, doesn’t solve anyone’s problem. In fact, it only furthers the problem that only some jobs get a living wage, and even fewer jobs get a good wage. I have no idea why you think it’s okay to tell poor people to “just improve their situation”, and contribute both their/our tax money towards enriching the wealthy.
- blindmute 4y ago
  Sorry, but no, I will comment my views as I please, whether they support the status quo or not. As this is a public forum, you'd do well to find a way to cope with differing views. I was poor. I improved my situation. I didn't spend much time complaining about rich people on the internet, because that would have detracted from the time I taught myself marketable skills for 8 hours a day, every day, for 7 months, while delivering pizzas and living in a shithole with 3 other people. You're right though, complaining would have been much easier, but somehow I don't think I'd still be making a quarter mil if I had taken that route. "Pathetic" to recommend people work hard and fix their life? That sentiment itself is what's pathetic. The world doesn't owe you shit.
  - yunohn 4y ago
    I don’t believe the working class is sitting on HN and complaining - it’s mainly people like us who spend exorbitant taxes on a system that doesn’t actually help anyone. It’s not clear to me if you understand this nuance. Anyways, your repeated “I got mine, fuck you” mentality is very boring and toxic - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2010/apr/15/us-politics https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/201.... Good luck, happy that you solved poverty! I’ll stop engaging as this thread will lead nowhere.
    - blindmute 4y ago
      The working class is absolutely sitting on Twitter and complaining. It's sad that you view advice to improve yourself as a toxic "fuck you". Is your locus of control so far externalized?

yunohn 4y ago

Look, this is really a pathetic line of argument. If you’re selling self-help books, sure go ahead. This discussion is about minimum wage, wealth gaps, and relative compensation of CEOs. You do realise that? If you think everything is perfect, feel free to ignore such threads. The status quo exists and doesn’t need your support. Saying that working class people can just work harder and get higher paying jobs, doesn’t solve anyone’s problem. In fact, it only furthers the problem that only some jobs get a living wage, and even fewer jobs get a good wage. I have no idea why you think it’s okay to tell poor people to “just improve their situation”, and contribute both their/our tax money towards enriching the wealthy.

blindmute 4y ago
Sorry, but no, I will comment my views as I please, whether they support the status quo or not. As this is a public forum, you'd do well to find a way to cope with differing views. I was poor. I improved my situation. I didn't spend much time complaining about rich people on the internet, because that would have detracted from the time I taught myself marketable skills for 8 hours a day, every day, for 7 months, while delivering pizzas and living in a shithole with 3 other people. You're right though, complaining would have been much easier, but somehow I don't think I'd still be making a quarter mil if I had taken that route. "Pathetic" to recommend people work hard and fix their life? That sentiment itself is what's pathetic. The world doesn't owe you shit.
- yunohn 4y ago
  I don’t believe the working class is sitting on HN and complaining - it’s mainly people like us who spend exorbitant taxes on a system that doesn’t actually help anyone. It’s not clear to me if you understand this nuance. Anyways, your repeated “I got mine, fuck you” mentality is very boring and toxic - https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/2010/apr/15/us-politics https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/michaeltomasky/201.... Good luck, happy that you solved poverty! I’ll stop engaging as this thread will lead nowhere.
  - blindmute 4y ago
    The working class is absolutely sitting on Twitter and complaining. It's sad that you view advice to improve yourself as a toxic "fuck you". Is your locus of control so far externalized?