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What do I care about inequality? If someone invents some new tech and makes a trillion dollars how am I worse off?

fnordsensei 3y ago
In your hypothetical scenario where a trillion dollars spring into being without any other consequences: you’re not. If you want to sprinkle some consequences into the scenario, how about you lose your job, and the supply of positions for said job decreases to a third.
- deleted 3y ago
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orwin 3y ago
Because children can't eat correct, even in the western countries (and while US and UK are the worst offenders, this isn't limited to them). That's also why I'm quite cross with the 'you should have children' crowd. No. Please don't. I've heard of a 14 yo girl prostitute herself in the toilets to guys her age (from her class even). A quick BJ for two meals. And I've seen her cry after that. Imagine the reputation she had in her highschool (this was circa 2010, so social networks already existed but no smartphone in the area). If we cannot take care of our children half-decently, everybody, even those with atrophic empathy, should care. The fact that we do not is a stain on humanity.
science4sail 3y ago
The newly-minted trillionaire could use their wealth to monopolize positional goods: social status, housing, politicians' attention. This could worsen your standard of living if you compete with them for the same positional goods.
- fallingknife 3y ago
  You define "standard of living" positionally, which is not how it is usually defined, but does make a lot of sense given the prevalence of envy. By that definition, yes, inequality does absolutely worsen standard of living. Points for being honest about your motivations, unlike every other person who rails against inequality.
TFYS 3y ago
Do you like centralized power? Would you like to live in a dictatorship? Because that's what inequality taken to the extreme is. So unless you do like those things, you should care about inequality.

In your hypothetical scenario where a trillion dollars spring into being without any other consequences: you’re not. If you want to sprinkle some consequences into the scenario, how about you lose your job, and the supply of positions for said job decreases to a third.

deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

orwin 3y ago

Because children can't eat correct, even in the western countries (and while US and UK are the worst offenders, this isn't limited to them). That's also why I'm quite cross with the 'you should have children' crowd. No. Please don't. I've heard of a 14 yo girl prostitute herself in the toilets to guys her age (from her class even). A quick BJ for two meals. And I've seen her cry after that. Imagine the reputation she had in her highschool (this was circa 2010, so social networks already existed but no smartphone in the area). If we cannot take care of our children half-decently, everybody, even those with atrophic empathy, should care. The fact that we do not is a stain on humanity.

science4sail 3y ago

The newly-minted trillionaire could use their wealth to monopolize positional goods: social status, housing, politicians' attention. This could worsen your standard of living if you compete with them for the same positional goods.

fallingknife 3y ago
You define "standard of living" positionally, which is not how it is usually defined, but does make a lot of sense given the prevalence of envy. By that definition, yes, inequality does absolutely worsen standard of living. Points for being honest about your motivations, unlike every other person who rails against inequality.

TFYS 3y ago

Do you like centralized power? Would you like to live in a dictatorship? Because that's what inequality taken to the extreme is. So unless you do like those things, you should care about inequality.