"[W]ealth redistribution" -- I smile when I hear this fiscal conservative talking point. I put this term in the same category as "penalising savers with low (central bank) rates". Hello Thatcherites!

Do you consider the wide and deep social safety nets of Canada, Uruguay, Ireland, France, UK, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Netherlands, Denmark/Nordics, Spain, Italy, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan as "wealth redistribution"?

From the perspective of an academic economist: I do.

From the perspective of an average working Joe, who is lucky to not yet fall into such safety net: I do not.

The social safety net is essential for a well-balanced, modern, highly industialised, capitalistic, wealthy country.

To be clear, when I use the term "social safety net", I mean (at least): healthcare, education, housing, unemployment, and retirement pension.

Is a wide and deep social safety net essential? All the biggest, most prosperous companies are US based.

> who is lucky

I know it's popular these days to say one's success is all luck, but we both know better :-) You've made some good choices along the way.