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by xyzelement 1253 days ago
Ok lol 15th century it is...

What was the typical job? What was life expectancy? How warm was a typical home in the winter? How many books did an average person see (much less, read) in the lives? What was travel like?

Also wealth disparity is a stupid metric. If you and I are homeless under the bridge, it does me no good that we are equal. If I have a house and you have an even nicer house, I am fine. (though I'd rather have the nicer house)
1 comments
jjj123 1253 days ago
Wealth disparity is important, because it also means power disparity.

I hear people who are pro-capitalism say “the poorest people in the US have it better than kings did 500 years ago”, which is only true if you’re considering the stuff those people have. If you’re considering the ability to self-actualize it’s not at all true.

I don’t think things are worse now than ever before, but that doesn’t excuse the concentration of power we have today.

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xyzelement 1253 days ago
// If you’re considering the ability to self-actualize it’s not at all true.

What does that mean? 500 years ago, did one have ability to speak to like-minded people globally? Could they travel as they wish? Could they pick their religion? Could they choose where to live? Could they pick a wife from another culture? Could they read about any topic they want? Did they have a shot at starting a business and having it grow into real wealth?

If you think you are more powerless than a serf 500 years ago because Bezos has more money then you, then you are the one who gave away your power for no reason

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laserlight 1253 days ago
> 500 years ago, did one have ability to speak to like-minded people globally? Could they travel as they wish? Could they pick their religion? Could they choose where to live? Could they pick a wife from another culture? Could they read about any topic they want? Did they have a shot at starting a business and having it grow into real wealth?

This is hindsight bias. Did they even care about these things? Or did they aspire to have the opposites?

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mftrhu 1253 days ago
> If you think you are more powerless than a serf 500 years ago because Bezos has more money then you, then you are the one who gave away your power for no reason

That's not at all what GP was saying - I quote, with emphasis added:

> I hear people who are pro-capitalism say “the poorest people in the US have it better than kings did 500 years ago”, which is only true if you’re considering the stuff those people have. If you’re considering the ability to self-actualize it’s not at all true.

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xyzelement 1253 days ago
What is self actualization, aside from the part of my comment didn't quote?
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