Reform or Revolution?

[lehighguy]

It is a meritocracy. However, merit is inherited.

If someone is born into a wealthy family they have many advantages. Good school, good neighborhood, private tutors, books and computers, educated peers, etc. These advantages make them more productive, and thus deserving of a higher wage. It's not that they don't deserve thier money. If you really want to get at the income gap you should deal with the main advantage that the wealthy have, a good education. If the public schools provided a good education it would go a long way in closing the gap.

[MMMMMM]

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MMMMMMM, I believe that ideally America should be a meritocracy. In practice that means that there should be very little correlation between a person's wealth and their parents wealth.

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Ideally the world should be a vastly different place in countless ways.

"Ideally" is most often a trap.

[MMMMMM]

Real men mind their own damned business--and generally find that a full-time undertaking.

I submit that nearly everyone who tries to mind the business of others, is necessarily neglecting their own affairs.

[Cyrus]

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Merit is inherited.

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That is an oxymoron.


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If someone is born into a wealthy family they have many advantages. Good school, good neighborhood, private tutors, books and computers, educated peers, etc. These advantages make them more productive, and thus deserving of a higher wage.

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While social and familial conditions are indeed a factor, we are supposed to judge by results and not expectations. In other words, although indeed a man to the manor born has a better expectation of being more productive, etc, we should not, ideally, compensate such a man on the basis of what we expect him to do and before he takes even one step on that path.

According to standard business theory and capitalist credo (and physics), such a practice would act as a counter-incentive, if anything.

And, for how many generations have you generally seen family money staying in the family? Two? Three? (Yes, I know the big names! Exceptions that prove the rule.)

[slamdunkpro]

Well said.

[superleeds]

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It is a meritocracy

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Heres a simple truth about the World.

Most are where thay are because of family. Most of the rest because of luck. And a small few because of merit. It's true for the very rich, the very poor and everyone inbetween.

[lehighguy]

Compensation is based on productivity. Do you have a better scheme for compensation?

[ThreeMartini]

"...series of reforms supported by all three classes...", sounds like a vast redistribution of wealth to me.

Here's the jist of it.

Take all the wealth/currency/money in the USA and divide equally among all. In five years, the rich will be rich again and the poor will be broke again.

[shots]

It's a standered position of the left that people have little control over their own lives. This is of course not the case. While those that grew up rich most deffinetly have advantages over those with less money. Those who grew up with less can close the gap by working harder. So while it's true that the poor don't start out on a level playing field if they're willing to put in the extra effort then one day their children will have all the advantages they didn't.

[Myrtle]

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It's a standered position of the left that people have little control over their own lives.This is od course not the case. While those that grew up rich most deffinetly have advantages over those with less money.

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Although that may be the standard position of the 'left', it's a gross oversimplification. We all have control over one thing........our own actions. However, many DO NOT have the same wide variety of options upon which they can exercise that control.

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Those who grew up with less can close the gap by working harder. So while it's true that the poor don't start out on a level playing field if they're willing to put in the extra effort then one day their children will have all the advantages they didn't.

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I certainly wish that the 'working harder' part was all that it takes, but that has not been what I have seen. The 'level playing field' that you speak of can also be called 'opportunity'. Do you truly see 'equal opportunity' in today's society?