From each according to his ability, to each according to his ability

[Tristan]

In Defense of Income Inequality
By Peter Schwartz
LINK

The issue of income inequality reveals one of the ugliest aspects of today's culture. The ugliness stems not from the existence of income inequality--but from the motives of those who denounce it.

Income inequality used to be a rabble-rousing issue of the left. Now it is being raised by mainstream figures, from the head of the Federal Reserve to President Bush, who are apologetically trying to offer solutions. But what is the actual problem they wish to solve? Certainly, it is not a growth in poverty. To the contrary, between 1979 and 2006--the period during which income inequality has supposedly become more acute--real wages for the median worker rose 11.5%. Even workers in the lowest tenth percentile had an increase of 4%.

No, the alleged problem is not that some are becoming poor--but that others are too rich. The complaint is that while the bottom tier enjoyed a 4% rise in income, the top tier enjoyed a 34% increase. The complaint is that over the past 25 years, the share of income of the top fifth of households climbed from 42% to 50%, while that of the bottom fifth fell from 7% to 5%.

But this development represents an injustice only if we use a perverse standard of evaluation. It is unjust only if we measure someone's economic status not by what he has, but by what others have--i.e., only if he benefits not by making more money, but by making his neighbor have less.

A Nation of Thieves
by Walter Williams (August 6, 2008)
LINK

Edgar K. Browning, professor of economics at Texas A&M University, has a new book aptly titled "Stealing from Each Other." Its subtitle, "How the Welfare State Robs Americans of Money and Spirit," goes to the heart of what the book is about. The rise of equalitarian ideology has driven Americans to steal from one another. Browning explains that certain kinds of equality have been a cherished value in America. Equality under the law and, within reason, equality of opportunity is consistent with a free society. Equality of results is an anathema to a free society and within it lie the seeds of tyranny.

An alternative theory for our Liberal friends.

 

[DiamondDave]

"But.. but... but. I want it!!!.... I'm OWED it!!!! It's not FAIR!!!..."

You know exactly the kind of reaction we will get from the libs, Marxists, and Socialists

 

[editec]

To the contrary, between 1979 and 2006--the period during which income inequality has supposedly become more acute--real wages for the median worker rose 11.5%. Even workers in the lowest tenth percentile had an increase of 4%.

And we're supposed to think those are good numbers?

 

[Anguille]

In Defense of Income Inequality
By Peter Schwartz
LINK


"But this development represents an injustice only if we use a perverse standard of evaluation. "

You mean like purposefully ignoring the fact that while while wages have risen, inflation has risen faster and buying power has sunk?

 

[editec]

You mean like purposefully ignoring the fact that while while wages have risen, inflation has risen faster and buying power has sunk?

Ya' think?!

The American economy is crapping out because the home economies of millions of americans is crapping out.

duh!

 

[dilloduck]

Ya' think?!

The American economy is crapping out because the home economies of millions of americans is crapping out.

duh!

This about income inequality--people are pissed that everyone does get the same pay no matter what they do. A bank president gets paid more than a shoesaleman. That's pretty much how things work.

 

[Anguille]

This about income inequality--people are pissed that everyone does get the same pay no matter what they do. A bank president gets paid more than a shoesaleman. That's pretty much how things work.

People are pissed because the disparity between what a bank president makes relative to what a shoe salesman makes has grown to an obscene level.

More and more working people are living in homeless shelters while other working people own homes as big as hotels. Some of them own a bunch of these homes. Eventually, if you do nothing to rectify the situation, you have a rise in crime and maybe a revolution when people get fed up with the disparity. That's also pretty much how things work.

 

[dilloduck]

People are pissed because the disparity between what a bank president makes relative to what a shoe salesman makes has grown to an obscene level.

More and more working people are living in homeless shelters while other working people own homes as big as hotels. Some of them own a bunch of these homes. Eventually, if you do nothing to rectify the situation, you have a rise in crime and maybe a revolution when people get fed up with the disparity. That's also pretty much how things work.

What is considered valuable compared to what is not has also grown to an absurd level. Envy isn't pretty.If someone chooses to invest thier time on earth so they will have a huge swimming pool so be it. People aren't born homeless nor are they born bank presidents. One actually has to do something to accomplish both of those. People arise out of poverty and become millionaires and vice versa.

 

[Anguille]

What is considered valuable compared to what is not has also grown to an absurd level. Envy isn't pretty.If someone chooses to invest thier time on earth so they will have a huge swimming pool so be it. People aren't born homeless nor are they born bank presidents. One actually has to do something to accomplish both of those. People arise out of poverty and become millionaires and vice versa.

Greed is even less pretty than envy.

"People aren't born homeless" ?

Life is so simple in your fantasy world.

 

[dilloduck]

Greed is even less pretty than envy.

"People aren't born homeless" ?

Life is so simple in your fantasy world.

It is. So why do all the envious wish to become like the greedy people ?

Life is not simple at all. THAT is what people don't understand. You have to WORK to receive rewards and I pity those who think that if everyone all got paid the same in spite of the amount of skill, effort, time and risk is spent that we would all be happy campers.

 

[DiamondDave]

People are pissed because the disparity between what a bank president makes relative to what a shoe salesman makes has grown to an obscene level.

More and more working people are living in homeless shelters while other working people own homes as big as hotels. Some of them own a bunch of these homes. Eventually, if you do nothing to rectify the situation, you have a rise in crime and maybe a revolution when people get fed up with the disparity. That's also pretty much how things work.

Because there is NO difference in the effort, complexity of work, etc



You want something... do what you have to do... make the right decisions... put in the extra effort

EARN IT!

 

[jillian]

Because there is NO difference in the effort, complexity of work, etc



You want something... do what you have to do... make the right decisions... put in the extra effort

EARN IT!

Bunch of crap.... as Editec says, see what happens when you're business/job/skills get outsourced or the companies needing them close down or downsize.

And, we know how well small businesses are doing in Bush's economy.

I think the Ayn Rand sorts need to understand that she was a great novelist... and a horrible economist.

 

[Anguille]

It is. So why do all the envious wish to become like the greedy people ?

Life is not simple at all. THAT is what people don't understand. You have to WORK to receive rewards and I pity those who think that if everyone all got paid the same in spite of the amount of skill, effort, time and risk is spent that we would all be happy campers.

Who said people had to all be paid the same?

What is stupid, selfish and dangerous is when people think it's okay that a certain part of the population be reduced to living in substandard conditions while others live way beyond their needs. Before anyone gets a swimming pool we need to see that everyone has a roof over their head. Once that is done there is still plenty of wealth to go around for those who want to collect it.

As far as "happy campers" go, studies show that a person's happiness increases dramatically if they escape poverty and achieve an economic level where their basic needs; food, housing , healthcare, are met and they feel somewhat secure that they will remain at that level. Beyond that the ability to take expensive vacations and buy luxury homes has not been shown to increase people's level of happiness to any marked degree.

So promoting a system which enables people to become rich beyond their needs at the expense of those who who are striving for the most basic level of economic security achieves nothing but to feed a mindless obsession with hoarding of wealth and control.

 

[Anguille]

Bunch of crap.... as Editec says, see what happens when you're business/job/skills get outsourced or the companies needing them close down or downsize.

And, we know how well small businesses are doing in Bush's economy.

I think the Ayn Rand sorts need to understand that she was a great novelist... and a horrible economist.

She wasn't even a very good novelist, imo. Her characters are like cardboard cut outs. She wrote ego-porn.

 

[jillian]

She wasn't even a very good novelist, imo. Her characters are like cardboard cut outs. She wrote ego-porn.

Well, Atlas Shrugged is still one of my favorite books.

Eek! Maybe I like ego porn.

 

[Anguille]

Because there is NO difference in the effort, complexity of work, etc



You want something... do what you have to do... make the right decisions... put in the extra effort

EARN IT!

Crime pays.

 

[Bern80]

People are pissed because the disparity between what a bank president makes relative to what a shoe salesman makes has grown to an obscene level.

More and more working people are living in homeless shelters while other working people own homes as big as hotels. Some of them own a bunch of these homes. Eventually, if you do nothing to rectify the situation, you have a rise in crime and maybe a revolution when people get fed up with the disparity. That's also pretty much how things work.

Then grow some nuts and just say it. You want there to be a cap on how much money people can make.

 

[Anguille]

Well, Atlas Shrugged is still one of my favorite books.

Eek! Maybe I like ego porn.

To be fair, I only read The Fountain Head and that was when I was 14-ish

This past weekend I head my brother-in-law telling my 14 year old niece he wanted her read Atlas Shrugged.. This is the second time I've heard a father encouraging his daughter to read Ayn Rand. I wonder what that's all about. I guess i'll have to read the book too.

 

[Anguille]

Well, Atlas Shrugged is still one of my favorite books.

Eek! Maybe I like ego porn.

To be fair, I only read The Fountain Head and that was when I was 14-ish

This past weekend I head my brother-in-law telling my 14 year old niece he wanted her read Atlas Shrugged.. This is the second time I've heard a father encouraging his daughter to read Ayn Rand. I wonder what that's all about. I guess I'll have to read the book too.

 

[DiamondDave]

Bunch of crap.... as Editec says, see what happens when you're business/job/skills get outsourced or the companies needing them close down or downsize.

And, we know how well small businesses are doing in Bush's economy.

I think the Ayn Rand sorts need to understand that she was a great novelist... and a horrible economist.

Bullshit

You are the one responsible for keeping yourself a commodity... as the environment changes, you change.... you stagnate, you get run over or pushed to the side...

Motivation and ambition are good things...

It is the lazy lib who promotes stagnation, reward for nothing, or handouts for sloth...