Equality, as it is talked about, has nothing whatever to do with 'surplus'; neither is it related directly to riches. No one is talking about giving everyone equal pay.martinm wrote:After the Equality and human rights subject was ended I thought you might like to ponder on this:
The problem with Equality, is, unless we are all meticulous and generous with surpluses, somebody has to define, administer and police Equality. The makes a lifetime work for these civil servants of the 'state'.
As individual wealth fluctuates, the definition of equality changes, Certain people decide they 'know' what this definition should be and regard themselves as a special 'elite' or 'class' or 'leader' , deserving perhaps of more that is regarded as the dues for the others. The 'elites' police and condemn categories of behavior that is outside what they consider just, (excluding their own, of course). adding in their personal prejudices and politics. The 'elite' administration grows and grows, the elite get richer and richer.
The European Union is based on ever closer laws to treat all people of Europe equally, and you can judge for yourself the outcome: Ever more regulation, until the people can stand it no more. hence the breakup of the EU.
Equality implies an even playing field in rights to education, health and the law. It implies that all persons regardless of race, birth, and any other categories that come under the purview should receive the same treatment.
Obviously this tends to an ideal such as the state provision of education for all, maybe health care and certainly legal aid. It also involves the enactment of laws against discrimination due to sex, race and so on.
Personally I think it is no co-incidence that the enactment of the provisions of equality over the last 120 years have coincided with the highest increasing in living standards, health and education; as well as a massive improvement in economic activity. It is the equality that encourages the surplus.
The reason is simple enough. Economic activity has increased due to the fact that the resources have been pushed in a downward direction, which has stimulated demand across the board. The demand has led to labour saving devices, sanitation, roads, and the whole panoply of infrastructure built to accommodate this new economic activity.
In previous generations capitalism has tended to polarise wealth and created a vast amount of poverty/slavery with a tiny minority holding all the wealth. And there is a continuing tendency for this to recur again and again, where capitalism is left unregulated. The ultimate consequence, or end game of which is one fat bloke holding all the wealth whilst the rest of us scratch for the shit that falls off his table.
It is this very tendency towards "equality" which has mitigated against the extreme polarisation of wealth to create the low-end demand that fuels economic growth.
Periods of recession are the means by which the rich encourage polarity to get richer. Austerity is a sham.
