• Ogmios@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    0
    ·
    edit-2
    6 days ago

    The point is that no matter what sort of social structure you invent, you’re going to need some sort of authority to determine who gets what if you want to redistribute people’s things. That authority position will be greatly coveted by those who desire to use it to monopolize whatever wealth your society possesses.

    • GoofSchmoofer@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      0
      ·
      5 days ago

      Right - but a well educated, fully engaged population in a democratic state can keep those types of people in check.

      This is a difficult and ongoing battle with those that want to seize that power and wealth and it takes sacrifice and time to do.

      • Ogmios@sh.itjust.works
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        0
        ·
        5 days ago

        well educated, fully engaged population

        …is something you aren’t going to have when exceeding the average is “rewarded” by have any gains you may have made redistributed to underachievers.

        • Kalothar@lemmy.ca
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          0
          ·
          5 days ago

          “Underachievers”

          I hate this myth of the lazy person, that there are significant portions of people that are lazy enough to throw the entire system off.

          In almost every single UBI study done on this planet, that has not been the affect.

          Turns out the vast majority of people like to achieve things, rewards are not just monetary and the way people feel about money varies.

          The odds of you motivating me to do something specifically for money is so low, there has to be another incentive. Why because my base needs are already met, so I have the ability and time to focus on my other needs.

          That’s what inherited wealth does for people. There is not a massive portion of underachievers and this seems more reflective of the way you view people.

          • Ogmios@sh.itjust.works
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            0
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            5 days ago

            If you’re trying to redistribute society’s wealth, then you’re going to have to take from those who produce more than average, and give it to those who produce less than average.

            Your point about being motivated by things other than money is something I’ll readily agree upon, but is also irrelevant to a discussion on the redistribution of wealth, where we’re specifically addressing those parts of society which generate wealth.