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Equality - what is it?

Lotus

I've always thought it would be good to have a more equal society. I don't understand why people think it's ok for some to be rich due to inherited wealth or because of the family they were born into or what school they attended or because they got 'famous'. I also don't understand why most people just seem to accept the fact that there is such a huge discrepancy between the highest paid and lowest paid workers. 

I'm a bit of a weirdo politics wise - I strongly support freedom and personal choice & independence, but I'm also a socialist in many ways as I believe a society should take care of its vulnerable members and I also like the idea of cooperatives and nationalised industries, where many benefit rather than a select few. I don't want to get into a politics debate, this is just to explain what some of my beliefs and ideas are behind my ponderings.

I know it's difficult to determine exactly what is meant by a fair and equal society. Is it fair that a doctor gets paid more than a builder? We need doctors, but we also need homes. Is it fair that someone gets paid loads because they are intelligent and got a law degree, while someone else with a lower IQ works two minimum wage jobs to just barely make ends meet? Should everyone be paid the same rate per hour?  Is it ok for some to live in tiny cramped flats while others live in huge houses and some have multiple homes?

I'm not expecting anything to change - I've accepted that the world is what it is. But just as a theoretical exercise, if human society were to be re-started how would you structure it to make things more equal? Or do you think there shouldn't be equality - that some should be rewarded more for things like having a degree or being skilled at acting or playing a sport?

Parents

  • I totally get where you are coming from and I do question whether it is right that the differences in pay are so vast. A cleaner is just as vital for a hospital as a doctor.

    I guess the difficult part comes with... if everybody got paid the same is would the motivation be the same to do the more challenging jobs, to do the jobs that involve a 5 year degree. Yes some people would naturally have that motivation to be challenged but others may say well I can get paid for doing a far less difficult/pressurised job. You also then run into the issue of is it fair that people who want to be doctors have to pay to do their degree when someone can get paid the same amount to do a job without a degree.

    I would love this to be really black and white with a definite answer that shows total equality but I think the reality is that it's just not as simple as that.

Reply

  • I totally get where you are coming from and I do question whether it is right that the differences in pay are so vast. A cleaner is just as vital for a hospital as a doctor.

    I guess the difficult part comes with... if everybody got paid the same is would the motivation be the same to do the more challenging jobs, to do the jobs that involve a 5 year degree. Yes some people would naturally have that motivation to be challenged but others may say well I can get paid for doing a far less difficult/pressurised job. You also then run into the issue of is it fair that people who want to be doctors have to pay to do their degree when someone can get paid the same amount to do a job without a degree.

    I would love this to be really black and white with a definite answer that shows total equality but I think the reality is that it's just not as simple as that.

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