Who's reading ConfuciusSays (4):

Yes, yes, yes, this would be a ridiculously heinous idea because of so many economic reasons: we can all throw around facts and figures that would show us that. However, what needs to be looked at here are the principals behind it.

The values of our country are built on the idea of the underdog winning, the guy who is down and out ending up on top, the bum striking it rich. How is it that these events can occur? Our democratic, capitalistic society. That's how.

Because the government tries to involve itself as little as possible in our affairs, this leaves a majority of what you make yourself out to be up to you. With hard work and the right connections, you can be rich and famous. With little or no work and little or no connections, you can be poor on the streets.

With the redistribution of wealth, this American Dream of hitting it big would be destroyed. Yes, I said it: I said "American Dream". It still exists. It still exists in the hearts of those who believe in it.

So, this discussion does not merely concern the economics of the issue: it must also concern what is in the hearts of millions of Americans who dream of hitting it big one day.



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Comments

  • anonymous said on Feb 19, 2007....
    I could'nt have said it better myself! It seems to me half of America nowadays is buying into the Socialist dream! That is the government can run MY life better than I can And they can spend MY money better too!
  • ConfuciusSays said on Feb 19, 2007....
    Haha!  I'm sorry that you chose to remain anonymous because I'd love to read your blog and your other comments.
  • silverwhisper said on Feb 20, 2007....
    confucius says: this is a very interesting question. i want to consider the question a bit more before responding hastily. i shall return later today.

    ed
  • KayRoseOrchid said on Feb 28, 2007....
    I feel that there should be a redistribution of wealth. Given the high cost of housing and gasoline, especially in the most popular areas to live in the nation, it is getting that much harder to survive on the wages workers earn. Sure, some can acheive the America Dream with hard work and the right connections, but not everybody. Everybody deserves the chance at their American Dream. Technically, whether their is a redistribution of wealth or not, we all still have our chance. I just feel that a redistribution of wealth would help those people that are having trouble making the right connections. Thanks for posting this blog. I was just thinking about this very issue, but didn't quite know how to go about it. This got me thinking =)
  • silverwhisper said on Mar 01, 2007....
    i disagree w/ kay. redistribution of wealth means communism: from each according to his ability, to each according to his need is how the idea is expressed in the communist manifesto, IIRC.

    and frankly, i feel strongly that people should be able to enjoy the fruit of their labors.

    ed
  • KayRoseOrchid said on Mar 01, 2007....
    What you say silverwhisper makes sense as well. But I am wondering what you think of the underlying ideals of communism. Being a political science student, I am always interested in learning more about the different forms of government.
  • silverwhisper said on Mar 01, 2007....
    kay: what we've learned about communism is that it takes from the productive and non-productive equally, and may distribute in ways that do not reward individual effort. and while granted, there are always the occasional few who have massive resources but have expended little or no effort to acquire them (e.g., trust fund babies), they're the exception, not the norm.

    ed
  • KayRoseOrchid said on Mar 01, 2007....
    That makes sense to me and I seem to vaguely remember learning that before in my political science classes. So, from my understanding, you equate a redistribution of wealth with a stap toward communism.

    I can understand wanting to be able to enjoy the fruit of one's labors. I feel though that equal distribution would be more rewarding for those not within the wealty elite of America.
  • silverwhisper said on Mar 01, 2007....
    kay: well, of course it would be more rewarding towards the non-wealthy--by definition, they only stand to gain, wouldn't you say?

    now, think about the impact of this on individual intiative. most of us want to succeed not just for the professional pride but b/c we know we'll be recognized for achievement--some thrive on such competition, such as effective salespeople.

    if you start killing initiative and competition, you kill the things that drive innovation.

    ed
  • KayRoseOrchid said on Mar 01, 2007....
    Wow I totally see your point! I guess the majority of people would feel that they don't have to work as hard because they would feel that no matter how hard they work, they would still receive the same benefits. I would hope otherwise of course. My original feeling was that if there were to be a redistribution of wealth, it would aide those that feel like they are working their butts off and not seeing the rewards.
  • silverwhisper said on Mar 01, 2007....
    kay: right, that's a very common reason to support income or wealth redistribution, but "for the common good" can be very, very tricky, at least IMHO.

    ed
  • KayRoseOrchid said on Mar 01, 2007....
    What can I say, I am a common sense type of girl! Of course, so many people it seems lack common sense. So it should be called uncommon sense (I must say I heard that from a friend of mine who says things that are quotable on an every day basis!) So you think the taxes should not be raised on the upper 1% of the population, right?

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