What do people think about income inequality?

[Scenic Sounds]

I am a graduate student in political science and would honestly like to hear the views of conservative thinkers on a point which has been troubling me with respect to the direction our country is heading, namely the widening gap between rich people and poor people.

I think when you're all done beating yourself up on these issues, you will find that some disparity in incomes is important for creating incentives and that an excessive disparity in incomes can lead to instability, revolution, etc.

BTW, when studying the issue, be sure to distinguish between disparities in income and disparities in wealth - they are two different issues. And google "Lorenz curve" for lots of great links. ;-)

[grellis]

I've also lost my job, have no health insurance, and am having to borrow $20,000/year to make my tuition payments.

You are spending $20k/anno to study polisci? Good Lord! You'll get a better education on this forum and it won't cost you that!

[SaveTheChief]

I was called "simplistic" yesterday when responding in another thread, so with that out of the way, I want to weigh in.

We live in a capitalist society that has done well for us since our founding. Those who choose to make a deal out of the rich, and the inequity of people's living conditions, are not looking at the big picture in my opinion.

The truth about our economic structure is that everyone who comes to this country and has inspiration, a good work ethic, and will take the risk to do something better with his life, will have the opportunity to earn money and provide for the future for himself and his family. Hard work is rewarded by good pay. If a person does not like his job, he has the freedom to try and better himself through education and a better job. No one in our society is stuck. There are many possibilities and many opportunities for those who really want them.

This is money which is hard-earned, and well deserved. Income tax in its current form is a socialist scheme. It is designed to punish those who earn more by taking more and more money away from those who have worked to earn it themselves. If this money was only being used on programs all Americans can use, like defense, national infrastructure and etc., then it would be easier to stomach. In reality, these monies are also being used to pay for welfare and a host of other pork projects used to reward those who sit at home and do nothing but have more babies to take more from the system. Of course, I have mentioned only one of several examples, but I hope I have made my point.

Those desiring to spread the wealth by making everyone "equal" are nothing more than socialists. By nature, Socialism does nothing but reward those who have grasped power, while fostering an environment in which there is no hope, no reward, and no incentive for doing groundbreaking work to move the society and economy forward.

Take it all with a grain of salt. This is only how I see things.

[TexasCajun]

I am an achiever and producer for myself and my family, why should me and others like me support consumer non-producers?

Achievers will always have more then non-producers just because of their character and work ethic, that is if the government allows us to be free to do so.

[SaveTheChief]

By the way, have you any links or sources to back up the statistics you quoted? This would help your credibility as far as I am concerned.

[grellis]

When you're done with your reading, please take a close look at post #17. Like Workerbee I am curious to know what you think.

[RightWhale]

the richest 2% of the country own 80% of the wealth in the US.

46% of the 'poor' own their own home. 87% own a color TV. Poverty is an income of less than $1000 per month, and welfare pays more than that. Education is free. The entire staff at McDonalds turns over every month. In other words, there is a problem, but rich versus poor isn't it.

[Political Junkie Too]

The idea of America is to offer equal opportunity, not equal outcome.

-PJ

[TexasCajun]

I take it your liberal professors have brainwashed you into becoming a socialist and communist?

I recommend a healthy dose of FreeRepulic taken 3 times a day until your brain is cleansed.

[Chris Talk]

The trend mentioned is inevitable. We will be like Mexico, a thin upper crust over hordes of poor.

Why? In America, only the rich and poor are having any kids. The rich can afford to pay their kids' expenses, the poor especially if minorities, the government will pick up the tab.

America's middle class pays all the taxes, and pays for all of the kids to be born and raised, but cannot have any of its own, there are no funds left after taxes.

[Jim Noble]

would honestly like to hear the views of conservative thinkers on a point which has been troubling me with respect to the direction our country is heading, namely the widening gap between rich people and poor people

Well, before sharing my views, it would help if you could explain why this bothers you.

In a just society, you should get what you deserve, no?

Do you have an intellectual basis or theory that would justify an opinion that rich people, as a class, do not deserve what they get?

If so, what is it?

[xusafflyer]

One book for you:

Atlas Shrugged

[Willie Green]

Does this sort of thing not bother conservatives?

Income disparity is a natural economic outcome reflecting the wide variety of individual opportunities and capabilities that exist.
Some individuals naturally have better opportunities/capabilities than others.
There's nothing particulary troubling about that at all, UNLESS political influence is utilized to unduly "rig the system" to benefit a relative minority special interest to the detriment of the majority of our society.

[Auntie Mame]

According to the US Treasury Department, the richest 2% of the country own 80% of the wealth in the US. That's honestly not just some liberal's opinion, that's really true, you can check the statistics yourself if you don't belive [sic] me.

I just went to the US Treasury website. I do not find these statistics there. Could you please go there and pull up this info you have posted and paste the link in a reply?Once you do, I have some comments to make on this subject.

In the last three years, the income of the wealthiest .001% has increased by 600%, in other words, for every $10 million/year they were making before, they're now making $60 million/year.

Again, I'd like to see where you got this information. Please post your source. Once you do, I have some comments to make.

I read in another article that 5 of the 12 wealthiest individuals on earth are from the Walton family which owns Wal-Mart.

What article is this? What periodical is it in? Who wrote it? Please post your source and I'd be happy to make comments at that time.

At the same time, human resources staff for Wal-Mart, when they hire a new employee, will routinely complete paperwork for new hires to receive foodstamps, as the wages they pay their workers are so low that, even as full-time employees, they are assured of falling below the poverty level and qualifying for foodstamps

This is a lie. Why would you say this?

I've got some news for you. When you're young, just out of school, life's tough, typically you work for lower wages. When you have 20 years under your belt, some experience and confidence, things start looking up. When I was your age I used to look at those old men driving Corvettes and think, "Why is it that anyone that can afford such a spiffy car has to be old and wrinkled?" It's always been thus.

We live in a country where, if you want to be a gazillionaire you can. You just have to work hard for it. You can't stand around waiting for it to drop in your lap. It takes hard work. I've found that money doesn't bring near the satisfaction that comes from love, friendship, good health and kindness. I don't even want to be a gazzillionaire. Do you?

As a poliscience major, do you think you were maybe just a touch brainwashed? Do you think perhaps you were taught to be envious of others good fortune?

There is nothing more injurious to you as a person than to covet what another has. Until you look at what you DO have and are grateful for it, you are destined to live a life of lack, resentment and unhappiness. I'll give you right here and now the secret of happiness: You are what you think. Your life is a direct reflection of your thoughts.

Change your thoughts, change your life.

[Teacher317]

Umm, isn't Income Inequity simply another way to phrase Economic Diversity?
And don't we all agree that *chanting the mantra* "Diversity is our greatest strength!"

[An Old Man]

"Take myself for instance. I'm fairly bright, I've worked hard, gotten good grades, stayed away from addictive substances, never had any trouble with the law, in other words, I've played by the rules. I've also lost my job, have no health insurance, and am having to borrow $20,000/year to make my tuition payments. Now, if I were living in Europe, not only would I not be paying tuition, I would actually be receiving a modest stipend to cover my living costs while I was in school. In addition, I'd be covered by a public health plan, which admittedly would probably not provide quite as good a coverage as the private insurance I could opt for if I wanted to spend the extra money on it, but at least I would have something, which, compared to the nothing I have right now in our wealthy US, sounds kind of like a step up to me."

Son, if you think it is so great on the other side of the pond, why don't you pack just your bags and move over there?

[Hemingway's Ghost]

I'm fairly bright, I've worked hard, gotten good grades, stayed away from addictive substances, never had any trouble with the law, in other words, I've played by the rules. I've also lost my job, have no health insurance, and am having to borrow $20,000/year to make my tuition payments.

Methinks this paragraph here renders the gist of your post to "sour grapes" or "envy." The reason this country's great is because economically speaking, downside is limited and upside is unlimited.

What in the world do you propose, a government regulation whereby "executive" salaries can't exceed some ratio when compared to "worker" salaries? I guess they haven't covered Locke yet in any of your classes.

[gracie1]

A thread got moved from chat to news? That's a first!

[discostu]

Income disparity happens. The raw numbers are immaterial. Some people are rich, some people are poor, some people are extremely rich, some people are extremely poor. That's just how the ball bounced, one thing you can garauntee is that when the government tries to step in to fix things nothing good will happen, the most likely result of any kind of government interference is to drag down the top but not help the bottom. Between the lack of jobs created because you no longer have rich people to give funding to startup companies (look at what happened when FDR and Carter spiked the income tax rate on rich people, week economies floundered) and just government waste in its redistribution efforts the rich will get poorer and the poor will stay poor.

[grellis]

We're middle class with 3 kids. After taxes, we don't have enough funds left over to keep our kids out of public schools.