The thing is unlike all other things you can be born into, wealth can be given up. You can’t give up being black or poor, but if you’re born into generational wealth to the point you’re of the ownership class by default, you can give that up and get a job.
Why should someone give up their wealth? For most people, wealth serves as a way for self determination.
Edit we also baselessly assume that working class people have better ethics or morals than some wealthier counterpart. This isn’t necessarily true.
Fact is though that people are inherently self-preserving. There’s nothing bad about it per se, but it can result in callous behaviors. Animals developed altruistic behaviors for group preservation, which is an extension of self preservation. But overall, someone will always look to self preserve. Helping out a family member or neighbor or friend is also an act of self preservation because they’re your network. Doing charity is an act of self-preservation because you want to believe in a larger network of good humans. Progressives need to build their policies around this basic fact.
Second, progressives will benefit from acknowledging that people have two needs: 1) some understanding of what it means to be human beyond the basics of mating, shelter, and fitting into a group, and 2) some way to exercise individuality and engage in self determination.
Religion and spirituality cover need 1, and economic tools cover need 2. However, all religions are trash fantasy, and our economic tools don’t work for people who they don’t work for. Humanitarian ideals are a better substitute for religion, and we need some form of Nordic model socialism which helps even out bad luck in people’s lives.
But saying that someone shouldn’t be wealthy is wrong. Wealth accumulation isn’t the problem. The problem is sociopathy which neglects basic social contracts. People are not here to be servants or serfs or slaves. People deserve opportunities for self determination, and our current system is not providing that for some.
The thing is unlike all other things you can be born into, wealth can be given up. You can’t give up being black or poor, but if you’re born into generational wealth to the point you’re of the ownership class by default, you can give that up and get a job.
Why should someone give up their wealth? For most people, wealth serves as a way for self determination.
Edit we also baselessly assume that working class people have better ethics or morals than some wealthier counterpart. This isn’t necessarily true.
Fact is though that people are inherently self-preserving. There’s nothing bad about it per se, but it can result in callous behaviors. Animals developed altruistic behaviors for group preservation, which is an extension of self preservation. But overall, someone will always look to self preserve. Helping out a family member or neighbor or friend is also an act of self preservation because they’re your network. Doing charity is an act of self-preservation because you want to believe in a larger network of good humans. Progressives need to build their policies around this basic fact.
Second, progressives will benefit from acknowledging that people have two needs: 1) some understanding of what it means to be human beyond the basics of mating, shelter, and fitting into a group, and 2) some way to exercise individuality and engage in self determination.
Religion and spirituality cover need 1, and economic tools cover need 2. However, all religions are trash fantasy, and our economic tools don’t work for people who they don’t work for. Humanitarian ideals are a better substitute for religion, and we need some form of Nordic model socialism which helps even out bad luck in people’s lives.
But saying that someone shouldn’t be wealthy is wrong. Wealth accumulation isn’t the problem. The problem is sociopathy which neglects basic social contracts. People are not here to be servants or serfs or slaves. People deserve opportunities for self determination, and our current system is not providing that for some.