Do conservatives believe that income inequality is acceptable? If so, why?
I’m not a conservative.I’d say that most liberals also believe that income inequality is acceptable.It’s inevitable.I don’t know any serious policy-maker who’s proposing doing away with income inequality entirely.What worries some of us about income inequality is not that it exists, but that it is worsening.Now, why is this a problem?Are we just bitter and begrudging hard-working rich people their success?Many conservatives think that’s what it’s about. Everyone has the right to be wrong; so let them think what they will. But there are two main reasons we care about worsening inequality:It’s impossible to decouple this process from the income stagnation we have seen for more than 90% of workers in the past half century. Simply put, we have a situation where instead of having productivity gains translate into increased income [or leisure time] for workers, it is translated into increased wealth for people who are already wealthy, a situation that is not as beneficial for the economy as a whole as if that money was instead going to people who are more likely to spend it. Spending increases demand. One person’s spending is another person’s income. So, the long term effect of worsening income inequality is decreased economic growth.The second issue is that concentrated wealth has a distorting effect on our democracy. Instead of policies being passed that benefit the majority of the population, we get policies that are only passed if the wealthiest citizens—who fund the campaigns of elected officials—approve of them.There is a famous political cartoon from the 1880s that captures it well: The Bosses of the Senate:The names of the oligarchs du jour have changed, but the spirit of this cartoon still rings true, 130 years later. We have monied interests lording over the proceedings of our elected officials, and the people’s door, far off in the corner, is not only tiny; it’s closed.These are the reasons we want income inequality to shrink. There would be no conceivable way of equalizing all income. And there is no reason it should even be a desirable outcome.
Do you think the fact that it's popular to hate rich people is a bad sign for America?
In a country that was BUILT by the fundamental belief that you can work, KEEP the fruit of your labor, and obtain ANY degree of WEALTH that you efforts warranted..... the idea of "hating the rich" is one of the most UN-American "values" one could ever demonstrate and it is a SAD SAD sign for America when so many live in this land of unprecedented opportunity..... and opt to live with their hands out and/or supporting "nationalized" programs over the opportunity of MAKING their own success happen. Sad... sad day indeed.
Why do socialists hate the rich?
What is the reason behind all of this antipathy? Aren't you grateful for their innovation which allows many people the opportunity of employment? Many of you claim that they are getting rich off of your backs, and that their wealth actually belongs to you. But what if they replaced all of you with robot workers? Will you still feel the same way towards them?