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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

  • A very interesting question Lotus thanks for posting. I agree with a lot of the points below. At heart myself I am a big believer in being free and independent and not having other people deciding what is best for you. That being said I also think its only right that we look after those that are not able to take care of themselves or need help. Any good society should have compassion and ensure we try to avoid/minimise suffering in whatever shape that takes.

    There seems to me, there is a greater divide to those that have and those that don't. Not sure how to address it but these extremes need to be tackled properly. It doesn't seem right when there are people going without food/basic needs and you have a number of people wasting money on pointless things. A lot of these folks pay very little in tax/contribute very little to society in comparison to those that are hard working but pay a disproportionate amount of tax.

    I don't believe in people should all get paid the same regardless of skill/work ethic, there would be no incentive to do anything but the bare minimum and no need to make the investment on studying for particular careers. This is one of the draw backs of communism and leads to a lower level of output generally. 

    We need to find a way to try and deal with the extremes in my view and close these gaps properly. No idea how tbh....

Reply

  • A very interesting question Lotus thanks for posting. I agree with a lot of the points below. At heart myself I am a big believer in being free and independent and not having other people deciding what is best for you. That being said I also think its only right that we look after those that are not able to take care of themselves or need help. Any good society should have compassion and ensure we try to avoid/minimise suffering in whatever shape that takes.

    There seems to me, there is a greater divide to those that have and those that don't. Not sure how to address it but these extremes need to be tackled properly. It doesn't seem right when there are people going without food/basic needs and you have a number of people wasting money on pointless things. A lot of these folks pay very little in tax/contribute very little to society in comparison to those that are hard working but pay a disproportionate amount of tax.

    I don't believe in people should all get paid the same regardless of skill/work ethic, there would be no incentive to do anything but the bare minimum and no need to make the investment on studying for particular careers. This is one of the draw backs of communism and leads to a lower level of output generally. 

    We need to find a way to try and deal with the extremes in my view and close these gaps properly. No idea how tbh....

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