redistribution of wealth

[firedfns13]

No. I would never support "redistribution of wealth". Its basically penalizing people for success because people are lazy/unwilling/unable to achieve.

I, however, would support a restructuring of capitalism to benefit the poor more. Like the credit system, which is really fucked up. Basically, anyone can get a credit card and go into an endless debt cycle because they don't/didn't care about a person's credit score when issuing the cards. Also, I'd make it public how a person's score is calculated.

Edit: I do believe in charity, but not as an economic system. Places like Chicagoland where there are jobs and such don't need as much charity as southern Kentucky.

 

[Wounded Melody]

Isn't that what charitys are for? to give stuff to the poor and hungry?

Anyways, it's their money they can do what they like with it, they worked hard and long for that so they can enjoy it. Well that's how i see it anyway.

Two words: Paris Hilton

ETA: and could someone point me to these programs where you get money for not working?
From what I know, if you want welfare you have to enter a job work program.

 

[thethingthatlurks]

Ah, redistribution of wealth, it's like the second law of thermodynamics applied to economics!

Joking aside, what's wrong with ensuring that no person in society has to go hungry, or be homeless? I am not saying that everybody should live in mansions, but nobody should starve or die on the street either.
There will inevitably be people who abuse the system, but countless more would live more productive lives. Isn't that something worthwhile?
Oh, I should also mention that I detest the human species as a whole, but I'd rather just watch as they kill each other in pointless conflicts than be surrounded by the decaying remains of some poor lower-class guy who couldn't even afford a bloody piece of toast.

 

[TheTim]

NO not at all. It just makes the lazy people not want to work even more and The rich people will stop working hard to get the income they have. Which would severely fuck up this country even more then it is already

 

[ModsDeleteThisAccountPlease]

Yes, I know capitalism makes America great and all, but would you ever think a redistribution of wealth would be a good idea, if it could be implemented in a way that would really work? After hearing my mother's doctor talk about the 2-day, 5 band, 100+ kids party she just threw for her 17 year old (17?! you don't rock 17 that hard!!! you wait for 18!) son, I'm thinking some of that money could be used to help people who can't even afford food.

I'll put it like this. If you redistributed all the wealth in the world, evenly, to every person, then within minutes, someone would be richer than someone else because he made a deal, or stole something, or took someone else's cash. There will always be rich and poor, you can;t escape that and redistributing money will not work. If she earned that money, then it is hers to spend, so don't interfere.

PS. This is coming from a Middle Class, not a rich kid.

 

[Tharwen]

It's called income tax.

 

[Typhusoid]

Of course... because why should anyone be entitled to what they've earned? Let's just give all the money to people who have done nothing to deserve it... destroying motivation for success and leading to an overall decline in the economy. Redistribution of wealth isn't one of the values America was founded on. I was under the impression we rewarded people for hard work and success in this country. Oh and to the people who say "evil big corporations with their money and greed", guess who makes it possible for millions across America to be employed? The big corporations... you know why? Because they have money to do it with... Taxing corporations will trickle down and cause massive lay offs, increase in product cost, and end up not saving any money in the larger scheme of things. Went a little off topic there, but when people talk about unjustly taking something someone else has earned just to be more "equal" kind of makes me angry.

/end rant.

Ok but here's the thing, it is inarguable that many people gain money without earning it at all, either through things like inheritance or lottery, or through exploitation of others. Isn't it fair that the people being exploited get a slice of the pie?

Are you saying people should have their Inheritance stolen from them? They may not have earned it but they have more right to their families hard work than strangers. As for the exploitation of others, it would be easier if you give examples. You might think paying minimum wage is exploitation, and I see it as job opportunities. I think you should get paid for the work you do. If you're being exploited do something about it or find a new job.

Right-oh then, an example. A bloke with a wife and 2 kids is going through some hard times financially, so he decides to let his medical insurance run out despite being the main breadwinner. He then suffers an injury, and is left both indebted and crippled due to the sub-standard level of care given to the uninsured. I refuse to accept that he should have to live out the rest of his life in pain and bring his family into ruin whilst there are people who have had everything handed to them on a silver platter walking around.

 

[Mucinex-D]

Of course... because why should anyone be entitled to what they've earned? Let's just give all the money to people who have done nothing to deserve it... destroying motivation for success and leading to an overall decline in the economy. Redistribution of wealth isn't one of the values America was founded on. I was under the impression we rewarded people for hard work and success in this country. Oh and to the people who say "evil big corporations with their money and greed", guess who makes it possible for millions across America to be employed? The big corporations... you know why? Because they have money to do it with... Taxing corporations will trickle down and cause massive lay offs, increase in product cost, and end up not saving any money in the larger scheme of things. Went a little off topic there, but when people talk about unjustly taking something someone else has earned just to be more "equal" kind of makes me angry.

/end rant.

Ok but here's the thing, it is inarguable that many people gain money without earning it at all, either through things like inheritance or lottery, or through exploitation of others. Isn't it fair that the people being exploited get a slice of the pie?

Are you saying people should have their Inheritance stolen from them? They may not have earned it but they have more right to their families hard work than strangers. As for the exploitation of others, it would be easier if you give examples. You might think paying minimum wage is exploitation, and I see it as job opportunities. I think you should get paid for the work you do. If you're being exploited do something about it or find a new job.

Right-oh then, an example. A bloke with a wife and 2 kids is going through some hard times financially, so he decides to let his medical insurance run out despite being the main breadwinner. He then suffers an injury, and is left both indebted and crippled due to the sub-standard level of care given to the uninsured. I refuse to accept that he should have to live out the rest of his life in pain and bring his family into ruin whilst there are people who have had everything handed to them on a silver platter walking around.

No one said life was fair. Letting his insurance run out was a mistake he shouldn't have made apparently. Who's going to judge who should have their money taken and who has earned it and should keep it? Who will judge who deserves to get the money? The idea of such a system is absurd. Too bad for that guy and his family, but I suppose the wife would have to get a job and it would be time to start cutting back on living as much as they could. It isn't the governments job to take care and baby its citizens, as much as many would disagree with that statement.

 

[Typhusoid]

Of course... because why should anyone be entitled to what they've earned? Let's just give all the money to people who have done nothing to deserve it... destroying motivation for success and leading to an overall decline in the economy. Redistribution of wealth isn't one of the values America was founded on. I was under the impression we rewarded people for hard work and success in this country. Oh and to the people who say "evil big corporations with their money and greed", guess who makes it possible for millions across America to be employed? The big corporations... you know why? Because they have money to do it with... Taxing corporations will trickle down and cause massive lay offs, increase in product cost, and end up not saving any money in the larger scheme of things. Went a little off topic there, but when people talk about unjustly taking something someone else has earned just to be more "equal" kind of makes me angry.

/end rant.

Ok but here's the thing, it is inarguable that many people gain money without earning it at all, either through things like inheritance or lottery, or through exploitation of others. Isn't it fair that the people being exploited get a slice of the pie?

Are you saying people should have their Inheritance stolen from them? They may not have earned it but they have more right to their families hard work than strangers. As for the exploitation of others, it would be easier if you give examples. You might think paying minimum wage is exploitation, and I see it as job opportunities. I think you should get paid for the work you do. If you're being exploited do something about it or find a new job.

Right-oh then, an example. A bloke with a wife and 2 kids is going through some hard times financially, so he decides to let his medical insurance run out despite being the main breadwinner. He then suffers an injury, and is left both indebted and crippled due to the sub-standard level of care given to the uninsured. I refuse to accept that he should have to live out the rest of his life in pain and bring his family into ruin whilst there are people who have had everything handed to them on a silver platter walking around.

No one said life was fair. Letting his insurance run out was a mistake he shouldn't have made apparently. Who's going to judge who should have their money taken and who has earned it and should keep it? Who will judge who deserves to get the money? The idea of such a system is absurd. Too bad for that guy and his family, but I suppose the wife would have to get a job and it would be time to start cutting back on living as much as they could. It isn't the governments job to take care and baby its citizens, as much as many would disagree with that statement.

Well, I suppose this just comes down to a difference in attitudes. I do agree that finding a way to implement such a system would be hard, and there would be a distinct danger of corruption but I beleive it is worth a shot. I refuse to just sacrafice our hypothetical man on the altar of free-market ideology. But answer me this: if its not the governments job to care for its citizens, then what is its job? I guess "Protect and Serve" is just a random catchphrase...