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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?

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  • I think, different therefore equal is for me more realistic, yes I do think some professions should be paid more to reflect greater skill and time spent studying etc, but there should be a proportionality to it, not the massive leap. It's also about attitude, we look down on cleaners and bin collectors as being stupid, lesser people, but we all know what it's like if the bin collectors strike and theres rubbish piled up everywhere.. I think as part of equality we need to change how we think about jobs like cleaning, we're seeing it now in the care sector, where care workers are finally starting to be seen as doing a vital job that takes skill and compassion and yet they work for a pittance. I think some of it is sex discrimination, things like cleaning and caring are traditional female roles that were often unpaid "house work", this needs to change, traditionally female roles need to be seen as being as vital and worthy as traditionally male roles.

    I find the financial renumeration of sports players like footballers obscene, how can somebody be worth hundreds of thousands of pounds a week for kicking a ball about?

    Many actors the same. Why do some get paid millions?

    I would like to get rid of or radiclaly change the honours system, so as ordinary people who do extraordinay things are valued with more than a bit of metal on a ribbon and a day out to the palace. I'd like to see those people have the seats in the HoL rather than the superanuated politicians and civil servants.

  • in reply to TheCatWoman

    This is better than I ever could word it. Totally agree with your explanation.

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