One To Five?

[Isard]

Originally Posted by redpaintednavi

Actually, studies show that in a more equal society everyone will be better of concerning different health aspects and social problems. An equal society benefits everyone. Just look at the sudies that Wilkinson, Picket and others have made of 20 of the richest countries, in nearly all ways the more equal countries do better. And more equality can be obtained in different ways, as in Japan one can have an income gap that is smaller or one can level out a larger income gap with redistribution of wealth as in Sweden. Both these countries have very low levels of unhealth and social problems. And they are not communist countries.
On the other side countries like the UK and US have much higher inequality and huge gaps between social classes. They also have a much higher rate of unhealth and social problems. Worst is the USA. It is also interesting to notice that USA, where people always talk about everyones equal oportunities and about "the American dream", has the lowest social mobility of the 20 industrialised countries that Wilkinson and Picket collected statistics about. So in "dreamland" America people have the smallest chance of climbing up the social ladder. The "American dream" is actually most unobtainable in America.

Tell that to Sam Walton and Ray Croc. Or Bill Gates. Or Steve Jobs. Or... Most of the rich guys.

You've just now stopped describing communism, and moved back into socialism, you're 5:1 ratio, the basis of the thread, is pure communism. If you want to talk about social programs to provide a base level of living for those willing to work, feel free, but you can't limit the ceiling.

[redpaintednavi]

Originally Posted by Aihwa

Tell that to Sam Walton and Ray Croc. Or Bill Gates. Or Steve Jobs. Or... Most of the rich guys.

You've just now stopped describing communism, and moved back into socialism, you're 5:1 ratio, the basis of the thread, is pure communism. If you want to talk about social programs to provide a base level of living for those willing to work, feel free, but you can't limit the ceiling.

5:1 is not pure communism, it can be obtained also with democratic reforms (even if it might take some time). If a society shall be really functional and sustainable there must be a limit of inequality.

Also studies show that innovation and will to work actually increases with a higher degree of equality.

Just look at the USA, of the 20 rich industrial countries studied by Wilkinson and Picket USA is one of the most inequal societies. It is also one of the most dysfunctional. Concerning many parameters it is actually the most dysfunctional and it is also the society that has the lowest degree of social mobility.