>It seems like any society has to make a rational choice about which freeloaders it's okay with, and at least try to align the incentives right. In the US we're

>It seems like any society has to make a rational choice about which freeloaders it's okay with, and at least try to align the incentives right. In the US we're okay with rich not working, but we gouge them via property tax, sales tax, taxes on investment income and estate taxes. It's not like having Paris Hilton working a full-time job would energize the US economy. Doesn't matter how much a rich person works. Their "work" is in no way equivalent in value to their extravagant wealth. That being said, I see no better alternative to capitalism. Wealth inequality is an unfortunate side effect that is just a fact of life: it's unfair. What I don't like is when people try to justify their wealth as if they deserved it.