Income redistribution and socialism are good or bad?

Question

80 to 95% of the wealth in America is in the hands of 5 to 10 percent of the population. Imagine 1000 people in a community, 50 of them own the majority of everything. 200 of them are starving, 500 of them are struggling to survive comfortably. Why do the bottom 700 allow the top 50 to own them through debt and work for them as servants?

If the top 50 do not pay their employees enough to survive shouldnt the top 50 be fined as thieves?or taxed for using people?

jobs,,,, good idea, go some place and let them use you like a good little servant,,,, for 8 bucks an hour,,,,

why causes them not to work.... ? could it be that the rest abuses them emotionally? beating them down? this wouldnt contribute would it?

I said socialism and she heard communism,,, too funny,,,,,, i wonder why

Answer 1

Socialism is not evil as people paint it to be. Nor has it proven to fail like many neo-cons will make it out to you. There's nothing wrong with socialism as long as it doesn't take power from the people. Democratic socialism isn't bad, but it really depends on what's going on.

A graduating tax structure, economic relief for the poor, free health care and daycare, these are all facets of socialism that have proven themselves quite useful with society. They protect those who are vulnerable, and they ensure that people get a fair shot. That's what socialism is really about, making sure a poor mans son has the same opportunity and doesn't get treated worse than a rich man's son.

It's when socialist parties go too far. For example in British Columbia the NDP (Socialist Party) was in power for a while. They weren't too bad, but they made a few big mistakes. They detracted business in BC by making it mandatory for unionization. Now the real wage actually did go up in British Columbia for a while, but businesses were eventually driven out becuase taxes and labour costs were too high.

So to conclude, I think it's wrong that we're moving into a society where rich have all the power, and socialism is painted as "evil" from those too uneducated or in-experienced to know what they're talking about.. or by politicians and the "elite" of society who are the only ones that have anything to lose.

I often wonder why Americans are the first ones to point out the faults of socialism, without even considering Capitalism has its faults to. I find it strange because Americans are the most vicious opponents of socialism (usually).. yet they themsleves have never lived under socialism. It's odd that most nations who have lived under some form of democratic socialism either support it, or midly reject it... but they surely don't think it's "evil". Just thought I'd mention that, becuase I think it's weird.

Answer 2

Hey republicans, it doesn't help when you cut down a lib! Set an example! This doesn't teach or inform!

Anthony, first of all you are right and wrong! The EU is known for tyranny! They tax constantly and they do distribute wealth! You are wrong in the fact that their economies are growing faster than ours! Most countries such as Germany and Sweden haven't seen job growth in decades! The unemployment rate has steadily increased to 7.6% while France has helped this average with their own 10.2% unemployment rate! France's universal healthcare is going into debt! I provided a link but I have many more! If you really care message me and I will e-mail you them! Just warning you there are lots of them.

Mathew H, I want you to realize that BIG government can NEVER increase while keeping the rights of the people! Throughout history there has almost never been a time when the government has grown in size and the moral and political rights were kept! Government contradicts liberty and freedom! The problem is, once you start socialism, you can't just stop it whenever YOU think it needs to be stopped! The people, including you, has lost power! The government does not find new technologies that are worth what the production of medicines and technologies are in the private sector and every invention comes from another! There is a reason why it took so long to discover electricity! There are many things, given peace and freedom, that should've been discovered hundreds of years ago. Had the Middle Ages had competitive markets instead of government buearacracy, there would've been more advancements, this does not happen with big government no matter what Bush or Gore tells you! Do not vote republican to go against a democrat and do not vote democrat to cancel a republican! This just feeds the cycle! Neither party cares for the good of this nation! If everyone was educated we would have no government pushing right-wing conservatives and no economic liberals! ~ Libertarian!

To answer your question the short way, there are many, many reasons to not be a statist! I care so much about the people I would never bring them big government! Simply give the people competitive markets and they will grow the greatest economies, healthcare, road system..... just as Hong Kong has done! They don't even have a sales tax in Hong Kong! In fact, the small man in Hong Kong understood how well there life is that they took the streets in thousands protesting a sales tax knowing that economic questions should never have political answers! Give freedom and you will give the people more than anything the government can do for them! Economic growth can only be slowed by government, not helped! This does not mean I like republicans!

Answer 3

Let's say you get promoted and you are making about 75k a year and you are happy, you have worked hard and you have been rewarded. Now lets bring in communism. Your taxes go up because the government now controls you. and some schlock politicians brother comes in doing the same job you do and making the same money, but sleeps all day, while you do the work. Don't complain it will do no good, your boss has the same problem and so do all the other employees in the company. Why frickin bother. You won't go any further up so no sense trying.
The wealthy get plenty taxed in the Nation 80% of the taxes paid by 20% of the people. Be happy you are in this country.

Answer 4

On paper it's fantastic. But it doesn't work because human greed and laziness factors in. If everyone gets equal no matter the performance of their job or if they work at all, then no one would work. Think about it, how many people do you know at your job would continue working if they got the same thing no matter what they did? I know none, probably not even me. And I like to work.

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I wouldn't take a job at 8 dollars an hour and haven't been offered that minute amount since I was much younger. And the only difference between socialism and communism is the semantics of who owns everything. The basic concept is the same.


*And I am very liberal, I am sure that Leogirl will attest to that fact. But I am also very realisitic when it comes to things like this.

Answer 5

Bad.

20% of this country isn't starving.

If the top 50 were smart (and I'd bet most of them are), they'd pay a little more, electively, and get more productivity out of the bottom 700, rather than being forced into doing it.

If I create a great new product, manufacture it here and pay my people a fair wage and give them good benefits, who are you to tell me I have too much money?

Answer 6

The 'roaring' economies of North Korea, Cuba, Soviet Russia, Communist East Germany, Red China, and every other country which has instituted programs of wealth redistribution and socialism should be amble evidence of the folly of these programs.

Furthermore, by stripping people of the fruits of their labor, you remove any incentive for for these people to attempt to succeed. Thus, the economy of such a country will inherently stagnate and collapse, not unlike that of the former USSR.

Answer 7

It has been tried many times and many ways and always seems destined to failure-----creates a 'ruling-class'-or "ELITE"------that get to herd the masses---------in a socialistic environment they is no incentive to aspire to achieve maximum potential since it does not have the same rewards as a free enterprise system.
In America today it is still possible to come up with a new idea----a new product or service and become wealthy.
yes----it is still happening.
We may not be perfect but are way ahead of anything else.

Answer 8

First off before I answer send me all of your money. Why does every nitwit liberal like yourself think that our economy and the attainment of wealth is a zero sum game...I guess I should explain that for you since I suspect your degree level is a GED. Zero Sum ie......my accumulation of wealth and prosperity must have been gained at the expense of someone else ie. the poor, downtrodden, liberals rather than my efforts and hard work. News Flash: it does not work that way.

Answer 9

lies, Damn lies and statistics. You're statistics are false probably grabbed off some left wing blog.

Employers do not exist to provide jobs! They exist to earn money.

Why don't you go start a business for the purpose of providing jobs instead of making money and in the utopia where you provide jobs you can pay your employees giant incomes.

Answer 10

the element is we are at present being given the alternative for capitalistic freedom, or socialism. we are actually not identifying between socialism and facism. do slightly analyze on all the failed socialist systems interior the history of usa- beginning with Hitler. Then ask this question lower back in case you nonetheless think of socialism is advantageous.