by Simon 61 Replies latest jw friends
If you took all the money and redistributed it evenly among the worlds population within 10 years the rich people of today would be in the same place all over again.
I disagree. There would be rich people but increasingly, wealth is based on capital and not on earnings. The rich are often rich because they were born rich, not because they earned it.
Obviously there are exceptions (look at Mr Gates!) but this is the trend.
Every red cent that I have is because I personally earned it, or I made the right investment. And I got the money for the investments by working my tail off and paying my own way through college! So, it is possible to have money and be self-made.
growedup
Do you think the same work would have paid off so well in north-west China. Are you American? I don't mean to be blunt, but you're probably "self-made" to the the detriment of displaced and murdered natives, and with the help of bunches of slain white soldiers.
Why are people rich:
A) They inherited it (ie someone was rich before them)
B) They are lucky (ie Vegas, the Lotto)
C) They stole it (various criminals and world leaders)
D) They worked hard and saved every penny (not rich rich but over time through investments and savings you can make a couple of million if your stingy- granted you'll be 90 and not be able to spend it but oh well your rich right?)
E) You made a product that in some way benefited someone otherwise they wouldnt have bought it.
In regards to Letters B+D+E I fail to see what the problem is with them being rich. Even A is not too bad. In a Capitalistic system you are rich because you provide a product that people either need or want. What is so wrong with that? Could you imagine life without electricity or a phone? Obvioulsy someone is making money off that and im glad that they are! Money= Motivation for new and better products that make our lives better. People in 3rd world countries are poor because their Governments (or lack there of) suck. Corruption, brutal dictators, war, and famine all contribute to poverty. When you have a stable goverment the standard of living is much higher. Dont blame the rich- blame the goverments who prevent people from succedding in life. Zimbabwe and their current situation is a perfect example.
In 1973, the income of the top 20 percent of American families was 7.5 times that of the bottom 20 percent. By 1996, it was 13 times.
Business Week reports that in 1999 top executives earned 419 times the average wage of a blue-collar worker, up from 326:1 in 1998. In 1980, the ratio was 42:1.
This is no surprise to me. Capitalism eventually implodes. The ghettoes are getting worse every decade, education costs are skyrocketing, and there is no room 'at the top' for everyone.
We need an equitable wage system. Why should someone get paid less than a living wage for ANY JOB????
Don't people who work as store clerks (for example) deserve a decent home? Why should they not? There are lots of necessary jobs that do not pay a living wage. The rich are getting richer, to the detriment of the poor and middle class.
If we were all rich, who would flip the burgers?
And no, everyone cannot work their way up, that is, imho, a fantasy fed to us as reality for far too long.
talesin
We need an equitable wage system. Why should someone get paid less than a living wage for ANY JOB????Don't people who work as store clerks (for example) deserve a decent home? Why should they not? There are lots of necessary jobs that do not pay a living wage. The rich are getting richer, to the detriment of the poor and middle class.
Actually that has worked before. Its called communism. Everyone makes a living wage and lives in a nice cheerfull concrete ghetto. Enjoy.
Define living wage? Why should a McDonalds fry guy be able to buy a house? Either A) Housing prices are going to have to PLUMMET or B) The price for a Big Mac is going to be $20
And if Houses prices plummet then the Rich are going to buy them all up.
And if a Big Mac costs $20 then McDonalds will go bankrupt and then the Fry Guy will not only be missing a house, he will be missing a JOB.
Capitalism is based on the have and the have not. The have not gives you the motivation to get the have. If I could have bought a nice house when I was washing dishes and being a bus boy then why in the @%#@% would I have gone to college to get a degree? If everyone could afford a home and a nice car doing unskilled work then NO ONE would go to college! Talk about a BRAIN DRAIN.
And if Houses prices plummet then the Rich are going to buy them all up.
Real Estate actually is at an all time high, and continuing to appreciate at an incredible rate. The only ones who can afford them are ones selling thier homes to buy a new one or the "rich". The rich are buying the homes right now on short term ARM loans with incredibly low interest rates. It will be very interesting to see where the real esate business will be in the next 3-5 years when those ARMs and LIBORS expire if the rates continue back up to a "normal" price.
Just my opinion anyway.
My mom just got back from Sweden (a perfect socialist 'living wage' country) and one night they ordered out.
They ordered some spanish food for 6 people. No drinks, no desert, no appatizers, no tip- just the food for pick up- $160!
Do you know how much food and booze I can get in the States for $160! Socialism SUCKS.
As does the American dollar in exchange to the Euro. Gone are the good old days of cheap travel to Europe
Stupid @%#@% Euro
