[jeremiep]

Its not like the poor is going down, they're also going up but not nearly as fast. Almost all of our poor people are rich by global standards is an argument I hear often. Most poor also end up middle class as they grow up, take responsibility and contribute to society is another I hear.

I lived in poverty for years after dropping out of college, sometimes with roommates that were way beyond toxic, worked multiple jobs 70 hours a week just to pay rent and food and still ended up middle class with a job I love; I've been through hell to find heaven. What I learned on the way I now use every day, its made me a stronger and better person and I can now help others do the same.

If someone had given me what I have today, just for the sake of equality, I would not have learned responsibility, discipline, I would hardly have developed most of the skills I now have and probably would've lost all of it by now. I would basically still be an angsty teen in an adult's body, which is what kept me poor in the first place.

[bhouston]

Notice I didn't argue for basic income or any other specific redistribution scheme (I like cost effective schools and low cost health care though) rather i argued for things that end rich dynasties that purpetuate inequality across generations.

I think each generation should earn their riches rather than rich dynasties persisting across generations. I favor capitalism and inequality of outcome but earned capitalism from at least a relative equal start.

[jeremiep]

I see your point, thanks for the precision. I can agree perpetuated inequality does give kids a huge head start.

Taxation is already high for the rich, but the top bracket is usually quite low. I don't think the solution is more taxes, but more tax brackets; they should scale to accommodate the extra rich.

[bhouston]

The very rich also tend to hide their money offshore or play games with multiple residencies to find the best tax rates.

[petermcneeley]

Even if the poor were not going down (they are in the west https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1oHJezqBYU ) that wouldnt matter much as we all compete for any goods that are pseudo finite. If inequality grows faster than the "growing pie" certain people will be worse off.