Is Equality something that Governments should strive to impose on people?

[upinwath]

People being equal is a myth put about by the useless cretins in society.

It's not down to skin colour, race, religion or any other factor except ability.

Some people can and some stay on the dole moaning they can't afford a holiday in Spain.

 

Equality is a pile of horse droppings but less useful.

[Wildcat]

I highlighted the first point, it's not fair to those who earn the money and then have it taken from them post mortem, agreed.

 

To answer the second question, because that money has been earned by the now deceased person and was there's to do with as they wished. Spend it, burn it, or pass it on at the time of death. I don't have to justify why they should be allowed to pass it on, it's their property, you'd have to justify why it was wrong to allow them to pass it on.

And some misguided notion about equality is a very weak justification (not to mention doomed to failure).

 

Just because the money has been earned doesn't give an absolute entitlement to spend it on what you want. There are restrictions that apply from making the action criminal to disincentives like taxes on cigarettes.

 

Quite simply the argument why it is wrong to pass on inherited wealth has already been made. It acts against the equal playing field for all that is meritocratic and most conducive to a successful society. Far from being weak the argument is not logically flawed at all, the difficulty we would ever have implementing it is to do with the emotional attachment between parent and child and their desires to preserve what privileges they can pass on at the expense of the rest of society. The objection understandable emotionally and subjectively, but objectively the counter argument is weak. It damages society.

[Wildcat]

People being equal is a myth put about by the useless cretins in society.

It's not down to skin colour, race, religion or any other factor except ability.

Some people can and some stay on the dole moaning they can't afford a holiday in Spain.

 

Equality is a pile of horse droppings but less useful.

 

Equality of opportunity is not the same as equal outcomes.

[Wildcat]

In answer to the thread title I would turn it around a bit from:

 

Is Equality something that Governments should strive to impose on people?

 

To make the point that equality of opportunity, equal access to the law, fair more equal pay and remuneration are in the interests of society and of the people, it is something they should be demanding Govt.s intervene on and to enhance.

[upinwath]

Equality of opportunity is not the same as equal outcomes.

 

Why should everyone have equal opportunities?

 

I can afford to send my daughter to the best playgroups and schools in the area. Why shouldn't I do that just because poor people who live nearby can't afford it?

I'm not holding my kid back because poor people can't have what she can.

[upinwath]

 

To make the point that equality of opportunity, equal access to the law, fair more equal pay and remuneration are in the interests of society.

 

You must be drunk or something.

 

So we go for equality in pay. Tell me why someone should work hard to become a doctor if they can earn the same as a taxi driver?

Stupid socialist ideas NEVER work in real life. Anyone with a brain knows that.

[Wildcat]

You must be drunk or something.

 

So we go for equality in pay. Tell me why someone should work hard to become a doctor if they can earn the same as a taxi driver?

Stupid socialist ideas NEVER work in real life. Anyone with a brain knows that.

 

Look at Japan, look at the Nordic Countries. They haven't done so bad with much more equal pay than us. Look at South America, where there is huge income inequalities and look at their quality of life in contrast.

 

In fact if you look at the metrics you will see societies where pay is more equal have better life expectancy, have less crime and are generally happier people.

 

http://www.equalitytrust.org.uk/resources/slides

[Wildcat]

Why should everyone have equal opportunities?

 

I can afford to send my daughter to the best playgroups and schools in the area. Why shouldn't I do that just because poor people who live nearby can't afford it?

I'm not holding my kid back because poor people can't have what she can.

 

Because privelege is not meritocratic.

[Cyclone]

Just because the money has been earned doesn't give an absolute entitlement to spend it on what you want. There are restrictions that apply from making the action criminal to disincentives like taxes on cigarettes.

 

Quite simply the argument why it is wrong to pass on inherited wealth has already been made. It acts against the equal playing field for all that is meritocratic and most conducive to a successful society. Far from being weak the argument is not logically flawed at all, the difficulty we would ever have implementing it is to do with the emotional attachment between parent and child and their desires to preserve what privileges they can pass on at the expense of the rest of society. The objection understandable emotionally and subjectively, but objectively the counter argument is weak. It damages society.

 

Good for society is not IMO a strong argument for the removal of the right to dispose of personal property as you wish.

[Wildcat]

Good for society is not IMO a strong argument for the removal of the right to dispose of personal property as you wish.

 

I can't think of a better reason than societies interests, for it to do anything.