Another comparison would be of the president of the US and a coal miner. The coal miner might use more physical energy, but the effects of the work that the president is performing is so much larger it is ridiculous.
But, just because I am lucky enough to work in a field where my work could potentially impact the entire world, it doesn't mean I deserve to be paid 3x the others.
The amount of energy, passion, and dedication can be the same if you are a kindergarten teacher, a nurse, or a web developer.
Me too :-) This is why I included "Given that working is a must", otherwise I would pick up something else to do (and slack a lot).
> I don't make nearly enough to be comfortable losing 20% of my salary, not as in that it'd make be poor, but it would put me closer to the average.
It would definitely do the same for me: I am in Germany, so kind of similar situation (however, AFAIU from Swedish friends, here IT is a bit better paid, and taxes are a bit lower).
Don't get me wrong: I definitely enjoy having money and being able to travel and have a nice life, I would also like having childhood friends being able to enjoy a good life as well - the only difference between me and them is that I "understand" IT, while they are better at other things.
I think all this rambling goes down to: "life is unfair, let's try to make it easier for everyone, without focusing much on the output of what you are doing, and more on the person you are".
One of the biggest reasons that I would like to be wealthy is so that if I or someone I love gets sick, I can avoid going bankrupt to get treatment or forego treatment because I can't afford it.
That's a fairly realistic concern for large swaths of the US population.
It's very immoral to allow (force) people to die, when they otherwise could live if they have more money.
It's less egregious, but still immoral to allow (force) people to live in pain.
I think it is a much more complicated issue to balance medical "expertise" with patient desires. If your grandmother wants a treatment and her healthcare providers believe she should not have it, not because it affects their profits, but because it's medically ill-advised, then what?
I do like the challenge, It's just a bit much. I'll be honest, I haven't been at many other places (26 years of age) so this might be 100% true and I just didn't know it until now.
If I'm also entirely honest, if I were given the option to never "work" a single day of my life again I would take it any time. Would pick up opensource development of whatever I find interesting again as I did a bit when i was younger.
> Unwanted suggestion: focus less on other people, and a bit more on your own well-being.
My previous comment might've been interpreted as if I would actively argue against a suck-less change for others in my country, I would not. On HN I like to express what I otherwise wouldn't since I get thought-out replies like your own to challenge my own beliefs (If i were to do the same in a Facebook discussion/Reddit the pie throwing contest would start)
That's not to say you don't have a point though.
> I have also to disclose, I wouldn't mind a 20% tax increase if this means bus drivers and nurses are paid more: we don't do anything special, I really don't understand why we should be paid 3x what other people are making. I understand the _mechanism_ behind it, but at the end of the week my SO does much more work than me, and she's paid 1/3.
I don't make nearly enough to be comfortable losing 20% of my salary, not as in that it'd make be poor, but it would put me closer to the average.
Should mention, I manage a small datacenter (I don't own it) in Sweden, Swedens IT job salaries aren't as "inflated" as the US ones.
Thanks for your reply :)