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> many people like to issue catastrophic warnings about how wealth inequality destroys a society- then quickly change the subject when you note that the Nordics

by Teever 1y ago

> many people like to issue catastrophic warnings about how wealth inequality destroys a society- then quickly change the subject when you note that the Nordics are more unequal than America A missing piece of the puzzle may be regulatory capture and a strong political/legal structure that resists the worst ambitions of cruel people whether they be wealthy or poor. You can think of wealth like the potential energy of a spring under tension. If used properly it is capable of powering the most amazing and intricate social mechanisms but if poorly regulated it destroys social fabric and the well being of every day people. Things like Citizens United and lobbyists representing cruel wealthy interests running unchecked over American democracy are examples of the socially destructive potential energy of wealth. I'm also curious if there's a selection pressure in play where the more cruel wealthy people in the Nordic countries move to the US because they see more opportunity to make money and be cruel in that environment while wealthy people who have some affinity with their nation and the people of it choose to remain and don't or can't lobby for terribly antisocial policies.

TFYS 1y ago
> I'm also curious if there's a selection pressure in play where the more cruel wealthy people in the Nordic countries move to the US That's an interesting thought! It would make sense that the people who care less about others and more about themselves would find it easier and more beneficial to leave. I wonder if anyone has ever done a study on the wealth, personality traits and political views of the people who leave.
api 1y ago
People need to start getting specific about their grievances. It’s not inequality per se. People don’t care if some people have more than them. There are specific concrete things. For Americans the big ones are: a health problem can destroy your life and your life’s savings, housing costs are too high, and college is too expensive and leaves people in debt. Housing, health care, and tuition. Two out of three of those are better in Europe, mostly: health care and college costs. They are better even if things are on paper more unequal. High housing costs are a disease across the entire developed world.
- nielsbot 1y ago
  Unfortunately wealth hoarding puts power and influence in the hands of the few, effectively creating a new aristocracy. That's why we don't get legislation to fix the issues you cite year after year. Wealth hording leads to the government working more for the wealthy instead of the working class. There will always be wealthy and powerful people, but as Spock would say (sorry) "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one."
- pydry 1y ago
  >People need to start getting specific about their grievances No, people need to start understanding the root causes of their problems. History is replete with examples of rapacious elites trying to take peasant pitchforks and redirecting them. >For Americans the big ones are: a health problem can destroy your life Which is a problem because that destruction of your life is immensely profitable. Which is a problem that wont be fixed while American government is plutocratically run. Which is a problem that wont be fixed until wealth inequality is.
  - argentinian 1y ago
    Why do so many voters in USA elect politicians that serve plutocrats? What's the root cause of that?
    - sokoloff 1y ago
      Because first past the post voting has entrenched a two-party system and both major parties enjoy massive inflows of money from the wealthy. Then “he who pays the piper calls the tune” and here we are...
    - sojournerc 1y ago
      We didn't have any meaningful primaries in the last presidential election. The elites picked their candidates for a token vote by the people. Third parties are actively suppressed by those same elites. Smaller state and local elections are better, but that's not where the power or money goes.

by Teever 1y ago

TFYS 1y ago

> I'm also curious if there's a selection pressure in play where the more cruel wealthy people in the Nordic countries move to the US That's an interesting thought! It would make sense that the people who care less about others and more about themselves would find it easier and more beneficial to leave. I wonder if anyone has ever done a study on the wealth, personality traits and political views of the people who leave.

api 1y ago

People need to start getting specific about their grievances. It’s not inequality per se. People don’t care if some people have more than them. There are specific concrete things. For Americans the big ones are: a health problem can destroy your life and your life’s savings, housing costs are too high, and college is too expensive and leaves people in debt. Housing, health care, and tuition. Two out of three of those are better in Europe, mostly: health care and college costs. They are better even if things are on paper more unequal. High housing costs are a disease across the entire developed world.

nielsbot 1y ago
Unfortunately wealth hoarding puts power and influence in the hands of the few, effectively creating a new aristocracy. That's why we don't get legislation to fix the issues you cite year after year. Wealth hording leads to the government working more for the wealthy instead of the working class. There will always be wealthy and powerful people, but as Spock would say (sorry) "the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few or the one."
pydry 1y ago
>People need to start getting specific about their grievances No, people need to start understanding the root causes of their problems. History is replete with examples of rapacious elites trying to take peasant pitchforks and redirecting them. >For Americans the big ones are: a health problem can destroy your life Which is a problem because that destruction of your life is immensely profitable. Which is a problem that wont be fixed while American government is plutocratically run. Which is a problem that wont be fixed until wealth inequality is.
- argentinian 1y ago
  Why do so many voters in USA elect politicians that serve plutocrats? What's the root cause of that?
  - sokoloff 1y ago
    Because first past the post voting has entrenched a two-party system and both major parties enjoy massive inflows of money from the wealthy. Then “he who pays the piper calls the tune” and here we are...
  - sojournerc 1y ago
    We didn't have any meaningful primaries in the last presidential election. The elites picked their candidates for a token vote by the people. Third parties are actively suppressed by those same elites. Smaller state and local elections are better, but that's not where the power or money goes.