- Principle 1: Stealing is Bad—Even for Barack Obama and Terrell Owens
- Principle 2: Equality Sucks. . . . Literally
- Principle 3: Pride Leads to Captivity
- Principle 4: Teacher vs Cop
- Principle 5: Democracy is only a Means to an End
Making everyone more equal at the expense of the rich literally sucks the progress out of a society and ends up costing all classes, including the poor. Equality sucks!
It seems quite popular in the world of politics right now to fund political programs through taxes on the rich. The idea is that these rich people have more than they need. It won’t hurt them to be taxed a little heavier to help all the poor and struggling people. This type of policy is terribly shortsighted.
The Rich Fund Progress and Innovation
Think of a few things that were luxury items to our parents and grandparents, but now you and I enjoy them everyday:
- Air Conditioning
- Television (pick your version: color, digital, HD)
- Telephones (once again take your pick: land-line, cell-phone, VOIP, satellite)
- In-home movies (VCR, DVD, Blue-Ray, DVR, etc.)
All of these things started out as luxury items that only the rich could afford. The rich pay asinine prices for things while they are still rare, new, and novel. This isn’t a bad thing. Without even realizing it, they fund further development of these products so they become more affordable and available. Soon the products trickle their way down the classes until they become commodities enjoyed by almost everyone.
Everyone is Equal Means Society is Stagnate
Imagine the Utopia where we all earn an equal amount of money. Who would lead off in the charge for new innovations? Who would pay the outrageous amounts of money required to develop new things? No one. Income and wage equality kill a society’s progress and innovation.
The Good Kind of Equality
Not all types of equality have such negative effects. I dream of a society where everyone’s life, liberty, and property is equally protected.
It’s not bad to be rich. It is bad to take from the rich (or the poor). How can we be so disrespectful of other people’s property?
Tags: equality, inequality, innovation, progress
[...] Principle 2: Equality Sucks. . . . Literally [...]
So far I am with you completely on principle 2. What the truth in the matter really comes down to is how these people got rich. I understand the taxation of bonus checks to a company that takes loans from the government if the taxation occurs to individuals directly responsible for not protecting an organization and their assets; however, not to tax a rich family simply because they are doing well and have a successful business. This would be insane since the desire to become rich would only faulter a mere fantasy to the many people who may make successful contributions to society later.
Good point Joshua. People get rich in many ways. If it comes by exploiting others then they are a drain on society rather than a contributor.
[...] Principle 2: Equality Sucks. . . . Literally [...]
[...] Principle 2: Equality Sucks. . . . Literally [...]