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Re:America pays workers just 27% of what its wealth allows –... by simianwords on Wednesday July 15, 2026 @06:26AM (#48918675)
The classic reply to this is that inequality reduces the agency of people to make decisions in the society - IOW it causes _power_ inequality.

But the reply to that is that it is orthogonal to the discussion. Power should be distributed in a way that increases efficiency and not just for the virtue of doing so.

Re:America pays workers just 27% of what its wealth allows –... by cyberjerkXX on Wednesday July 15, 2026 @06:34AM (#48918738)
All human relationships have inequalities. Attempting to use the government to destroy hierarchies is utopian bullshit. It always leads to worse outcomes than intendent because humans are imperfect. Intentions should never be the measure of success, only outcomes.
Re:America pays workers just 27% of what its wealth allows –... by watwut on Wednesday July 15, 2026 @06:56AM (#48918950)
Those hierarchies are the result and consequence of goverment being captured by super rich.

Removing it and weakening sociopathic predators is correct. They will cauase less damage when they are not constantly given advantages.

Re:America pays workers just 27% of what its wealth allows –... by SideburnsOfDoom on Wednesday July 15, 2026 @08:42AM (#48919987)
> Attempting to use the government to destroy hierarchies is utopian

yes, "destroy hierarchies" is utopian. But that's a complete straw man version of "reduce very high levels of inequality that have highly visible political impacts".

Re:America pays workers just 27% of what its wealth allows –... by simianwords on Wednesday July 15, 2026 @10:29AM (#48921415)
Non trivial number of people believe that everyone is equal in abilities. Non trivial number of people believe that communism is a preferable end goal - a goal that excludes hierarchies from forming.
Re:America pays workers just 27% of what its wealth allows –... by SideburnsOfDoom on Wednesday July 15, 2026 @11:18AM (#48922206)
> Non trivial number of people believe that everyone is equal in abilities.

really? Have you ever met anyone like this?

Cool story, but also another straw man - not relevant to the article and to "We should absolutely aim to lower this gap".

Re:America pays workers just 27% of what its wealth allows –... by logicchains on Wednesday July 15, 2026 @06:34AM (#48918741)
>The classic reply to this is that inequality reduces the agency of people to make decisions in the society - IOW it causes _power_ inequality.

The only agency it reduces is the agency for people to make decisions about what should be done with other people's wealth. Which is not a productive agency for them to have as they've got an incredible conflict of interest to just waste it on themselves.

Re:America pays workers just 27% of what its wealth allows –... by simianwords on Wednesday July 15, 2026 @06:48AM (#48918861)
I have changed my opinions on this. Land reform initiatives have been carried out globally at different points and it has been seen as broadly useful and necessary. Why?

Medial and pre-medieval times, debt cancellation was also broadly necessary and done. Why?

Re:America pays workers just 27% of what its wealth allows –... by SideburnsOfDoom on Thursday July 16, 2026 @04:44AM (#48931899)
> The classic reply to this is that inequality reduces the agency of people to make decisions in the society - IOW it causes _power_ inequality.

Yes!

> But the reply to that is that it is orthogonal to the discussion.

Bafflegab.

> Power should be distributed in a way that increases efficiency

Sophistry. Why is "efficiency" a goal and how would you even define it?

Look at the current pollical great power of Oligarchs. Does this strike you as "efficient"? I see it as producing poor outcomes, and that's all.