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A comment on IT is the cause of rising income and wealth inequality since the 1970s [pdf]. Parent comment

Re:IT is the cause of rising income and wealth inequality si... by chongli on Monday August 07, 2017 @05:09AM (#14946184)
You ought to familiarize yourself with the social contract. Rich people do not create their wealth in a vacuum. Everybody contributes to the creation of an environment whereby wealth creation is possible. This includes everything from basic utilities, infrastructure (roads & rail), health and safety, education, food security, military etc.

If you want to try your hand at creating wealth without "forcing" others to provide for you, there are plenty of lawless regions in places like Somalia, Syria, and Afghanistan for you to test your mettle. Sound unappealing? There you go.

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Re:IT is the cause of rising income and wealth inequality si... by mamon on Monday August 07, 2017 @05:23AM (#14946254)
Are you suggesting that rich people use those utilities like education or infrastructure for free? Because I'm pretty sure that they already pay for them, in taxes or otherwise. And of course their companies also PROVIDE some of the services you mentioned.
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Re:IT is the cause of rising income and wealth inequality si... by chongli on Monday August 07, 2017 @06:17AM (#14946436)
Are you suggesting that rich people use those utilities like education or infrastructure for free?

They don't start out rich. So, maybe some rich people inherit their wealth, but go back enough generations and everybody had to start non-rich.

It's not just that, though. Rich people don't live in a vacuum with their wealth. They interact with the economy. They employ people, they contract for services, they trade with people. All of the people they interact with need to be fed, clothed, educated, etc. However, thanks to the power of economic growth, they still get more out of society than they pay in taxes.

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