Friday, February 26, 2010

Income Equality - It Just “Feels so Much Nicer”

Jenna Russell, writing for The Boston Globe, interviews Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson, who have written a book titled The Spirit Level: Why Greater Equality Makes Societies Stronger.

Russell’s interview is posted under the headline It’s money that matters, and carries the subheadline A new book says economic inequality is the social division we should be worrying about.

Based on the title of the book, the headline for Russell’s piece, and the subheadline, it is not difficult to ascertain that Pickett and Wilkinson think the solution to differences in incomes amongest the individuals who make up society is wealth redistribution, though they do admit that they “are not advocating any particular way” this should, or could, be accomplished.

What I found particularly empty headed about the interview, which would I think reflect an emptyheadedness about Pickett and Wilkinson’s book, is the following question and answer from within Russell’s interview regarding alleged benefits of income/wealth equality.

IDEAS: So the people at the top would benefit from change as well?

WILKINSON: The quality of social relations seems to deteriorate in more unequal societies. People trust each other much less….In Sweden, people don’t bother to check your tickets on the train or bus. And it just feels so much nicer. (bold by ed.)

It just feels so much nicer.  How vacuous.

Throughout mankind’s history I can recall no time when income/wealth equality existed.  This would also be true within the animal kingdom, though animals typically do not accumulate wealth, indeed not every animal receives the same share of the income (the kill or the best fruits hanging from the tree.)

Inequality in incomes and wealth will always exist.  That is the way the world functions.  Some individual will always make more money than you or I.  Some individual will always have a nicer car, home, or toy than you or I.  Get over it, and if you desire a nicer car, home, toy, or more money, get out there and earn it yourself, and keep your mitts off of my earnings.

Via Arts & Letters Daily.

Posted by John Venlet on 02/26 at 09:58 AM
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