Equality - what is it?

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 feel like pay should be worth the stress level of the job, for example, surgeons - they literally take people's lives in their hands so should be paid more. But on the flip side, do I support capitalist greed like Jeff Bazos for example? No, I don't, and I boycott companies like Amazon. They are destroying people's livelihoods - like independent highstreet retailers for example, or people who worked for the bigger retailers who closed down. I guess my point is I think a pay difference has to happen in some jobs otherwise people might not want the stress of a career like a surgeon if they could be a cleaner for the same wage, so we could end up with a shortage. No disrespect to cleaners, I used to be one in operating theatres and I remember thinking I wouldn't want the stress the doctors were under, but what we can do is boycott the billionaires and not give them as much power.
    I realise *stress* is subjective so maybe that's not the best word but hopefully you'll know what I mean.

  • I try my best to shop in the high street if I can, even if it costs more (when I can afford to that is). I don't completely boycott Amazon but I try to only buy there when I can't buy anywhere else 

Reply
  • I try my best to shop in the high street if I can, even if it costs more (when I can afford to that is). I don't completely boycott Amazon but I try to only buy there when I can't buy anywhere else 

Children
No Data