• Ogmios@sh.itjust.works
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    arrow-down
    4
    ·
    edit-2
    9 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
      2
      ·
      9 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
        1
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        9 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.

        • GoofSchmoofer@lemmy.world
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          9 days ago

          I think your definition of redistribution and mine are not the same.

          If I’m reading this right you are saying that any “reward” someone gets for over achieving will be punished and that person has to transfer a certain percentage of their bonus to an underachiever. That is to say that the redistribution is a direct hand out of your reward in the form of cash to some underachiever?

          My definition of redistribution is that if you live in a society that values the education of its citizens, then the redistribution (ie taxes) is pooled and then spent in a way can help people out of difficult situations so that they can pursue an education and a career that will improve their lives and in a bigger sense improve the economic life of the country.

          I see taxes as patriotic that if you truly believe in your country (that is the people that make up the country) you are willing to make a small sacrifice to help others become better citizens.