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I think before one can tackle that problem, society has to collectively realize it is a problem, which is not the case, though, as long as some people defend rampant inequality for whatever reason.
Because people have different abilities, capacities, talents, drive and behaviors which lead to unique life outcomes. Confiscating wealth in order to equalize life outcomes is tantamount to being an economic slave to the state.
Tax the poor and pay the rich a small stipend for doing nothing.
Yeah, many conservatives pretty strongly feel it's really the rich who are hurting pretty bad. It sure isn't the poor who are hurting. The poor got it made by being on welfare.
You can't. Once wealth is accumulated it is difficult to get rid of it, really it is (for actual wealth). Compound interest + millions + time + American Stock market=never ending gravy train. It would take a full depression to restart the system.
The poor is the hard question as there are so many variables that lead to poverty. Too many for me to write about on a forum post.
Because people have different abilities, capacities, talents, drive and behaviors which lead to unique life outcomes. Confiscating wealth in order to equalize life outcomes is tantamount to being an economic slave to the state.
There is no need to confiscate anything, would be enough to make everyone pay their taxes in full (i.e. ruthlessly wipe out all tax loopholes, tax havens etc.), to tax inheritance, to tax capital gains etc. -- everything that does not result from the hard work of the individual. Rich people would still be well off despite those steps. Wealth should only result from merited income, not from accumulated assets.
I think it is also a cultural problem. That entire idea that one should try to become wealthy and that leading a humble life is for losers. Greed is not good, unlike what Gekko said.
I notice that lots of people who complain about the poor getting "free stuff" have no problem with big corporations getting billions in "free stuff" in the form of massive subsidies. Even though it is known that these benefits most often do not "trickle down" to others, and instead go into the bank accounts of corporate executives, many people continue to think this is OK. I don't.
The short answer is... stop letting in poor people into our country.
Seriously though, in all of human civilization, there have been those with wealth and other assets, and others with nothing and living on the fringes of society. We will always have citizens with wealth, and those who are poor, and most people being in the middle. And that's okay.
We need to stop being so wound up over the concept of "fairness" and everyone having equal amounts of money. Some people are just smarter, or more aggressive or just willing to work harder or just content to live frugally and not spend on nonsense. And I am fine with stupider people and slackers having less in life than those who are hard working and using commonsense to have more. And not every "poor person" is unhappy that they don't have a lot of material wealth in their lives.
You can't. Once wealth is accumulated it is difficult to get rid of it, really it is (for actual wealth). Compound interest + millions + time + American Stock market=never ending gravy train. It would take a full depression to restart the system.
The poor is the hard question as there are so many variables that lead to poverty. Too many for me to write about on a forum post.
And the vast majority of those on the lower rungs of the economic pyramid don't understand what real wealth is -- or how it works; to them the wealth of a Bezos, Gates or Buffet is still visualized as cash in a vault, rather than the market value of assets accumulated and nurtured over the years. They don't recognize that the sort of threats and saber-rattling practiced by the spreaders of class-hatred simply destroys the confidence in the future (speculative interest) that makes the common stock of an Amazon, Microsoft or Berkshire Hathaway valuable -- and funds colleges and universities, hospitals and philanthropies that create new jobs and opportunities.
Last edited by 2nd trick op; 02-21-2019 at 01:49 PM..
You don’t, there will always be a gap. Government intervention will only make the gap worse.
Not everyone has the IQ to be a neurosurgeon or computer scientist.
Quote:
Originally Posted by StillwaterTownie
No, they would only be begging in the street. Maybe even knocking on your door.
Sounds like a good incentive to get a job. Surely they can do something worth money in the world’s richest country.
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