tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6480818427597300387.post80527377655457247..comments2024-03-07T19:25:22.346-08:00Comments on Last Men and OverMen: File it Under Good News is no NewsMike Saxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01360689916550576484noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6480818427597300387.post-33519997369738676312016-07-02T12:15:27.450-07:002016-07-02T12:15:27.450-07:00The article didn't say whether it is average o...The article didn't say whether it is average or median salaries. <br /><br />No matter what, it's hard to say that it's no good news. I said we have plenty way to go and I don't mean the rich can't be taxed at a higher level than they are now. Mike Saxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01360689916550576484noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6480818427597300387.post-7865210711814969632016-07-02T11:50:57.699-07:002016-07-02T11:50:57.699-07:00Well there are a couple things that might throw a ...Well there are a couple things that might throw a little water on that good news about the 99%. 1) Dont tell me about "average salaries". Average is a worthless term with so much inequality. Even within the 99% you have plenty of people making high six figures and maybe many of their salaries have grown (middle managers or even individual business owners) while the guy doing the 50-60 hour weeks is still getting no raises, having his workload increased and seeing no exit form the treadmill 2) There is just a smaller workforce so those working may have seen some gains (but again the gains probably are very top heavy within the 99%) but we still need ways to get more people back into the workforce.<br /><br />My views on this are that we need to rethink the arenas within which capitalism works best. Find the places where a little healthy competition brings out the best in people without incentivizing people to profit from misery.<br /><br />I think we need to stat with the idea that EVERYONE is entitled to food, shelter, education and healthcare. Those areas need strong public investment to make sure no one involuntarily goes without. Someone competing in the workforce shouldn't lose access to housing, food etc just because someone else beat them out for a job. <br /><br />Its about building a floor the right height and encouraging winners without punishing losers so severely in my view. I think their is a way to have a healthy amount of competition so that people who do better will get more while making it so that no one is completely shut out. <br />It all starts with a revised conception of human rights and freedom. Everyones right to the basics supersedes anyone elses right to accumulate as much as they want/can. Imposing limits on ownership is probably going to be necessary too. We already say you cant "own' a person so we can say there are limits to the non person things you can own too.Greghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03139782404004492965noreply@blogger.com