Americans More Willing to Tolerate Economic Inequality

I agree with ricman's proposition. I think it accurately describes our general view of class.
Most Americans feel that opportunity is a basic value of our social system, and most criticism pertains to blocked opportunity. Indeed, much crime is an attempt to create an alternate opportunity structure.
In addition, most Americans do not mind that someone else has more wealth than they do, but find it hard to tolerate being snubbed. Elitism, as expressed in the arts, for example, is repugnant to most of the semi-washed. The unwashed see it as a foreign phenomenon of little or no relevance to their social world.

Is this regarding economy as a dosmestic US issue?



How do americans feel about the fact that in order to secure this basic value in the social system, they have to deprive a lot of the rest of the world of it?

I saw a TV program a while back where many americans stated that there were people overseas "fighting for our freedom of speech", implying that this fight was essential for that and other freedoms.

Truth is that the only thing they're fighting for is the freedom to consume at a staggering rate.

Should they not consume at a staggering rate?

If not, why not? Could it be that the criticism of American consumption comes from people who are ENVIOUS?

Harldy, in my case anyway.

Noway is not a poor country. In terms of money in relation to population I think maybe there's more of it here per citizen. A lot anyways.

But we're consumption junkies over here too.

It is a fact that the future of our species looks grim if we cannot control our abuse of recources.

But to answer your question:
We should not consume at a staggering rate because in so doing we deprive others of a decent quality of life. There is enough money in the west to end all hunger and poverty in the whole world. Only, doing so means that we'll have to get by with less, and that notion is not one most of us want to consider.

Its a very, very rare human being who isn't a "consumer junky". Folks crave surpluses, because in them they believe there is security against want. We avoid starvation, and over eat. We want the social status that wealth and property bring, so we acquire material things that are fashionable. Jealousy and envy drive us to compete with those we believe have more material things than we have.Suffering is endemic, and we hope that we can either defeat it or hold it at bay by pursuing pleasure. Which is worse to grow old, become sick and die in poverty and want, or to grow old, become sick and die while living a life of luxury and attended by the best medical support?

Americans are no different than Norwegians, or Russians, or Chinese, or Syrians, or Indians. We all suffer. We all seek to buffer ourselves and out families from the worst deprivations. We all want to have social status and power within our cultural setting. We all want to feed ourselves, and we tend to discount the future, and those who live far away and out of our view.

Re: Americans More Willing to Tolerate Economic Inequality


This sounds like homework, but an interesting question is posed.

I would agree that equality of opportunity is is a basic US value. We are a country built on being the land of opportunity, where millions have realized their dreams simply by immigrating here.

On NPR last week I heard a brief discussion pertaining to how higher education has recently become skewed towards those that can afford it with little or no assistance. I missed how admissions were being determined that would lead to this result, but the point was clear that it was an opportunity being afforded the elite, decreasing the chances of those less fortunate to do better than their parents. If I remember correctly, the claim was that this is the first generation in a long time that is not expected to be better off than their parents.

I would find that a travisty were it to turn out to be true. (Considering the source, I expect it to be good information but am hopeful that they are wrong) It is, in my opinion, the ability to see a better future that has driven so many to do so.

Even though successful results are not guaranteed, without the opportunity one's options are limited and dreams cannot be pursued. It's like the old "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink." If you lead him to a dry well, he doesn't have a choice to drink or not. If the opportunity is there and one fails, it can at least be said that the good effort was made. So, yes, it is more about the opportunity than the results.

On the political side, I would also agree that we have less tolerence for political inequality. We are taught that our vote counts, that every one is to be represented, and that we decide which direction our country will go by electing those that best represent our own ideas and values. We have lines of communication available to us to easily relay our thoughts to our representatives to let them know the stand we want him or her to take on various issues. It should be out of the question that any segment of our citizenry not be represented or that their vote not count.

As a current event example, I would present that big business is now running our government. Big business is not a citizen, yet it has a megaphone to the ear of our representatives. What the citizens have been feeling and saying for the last several years has not been heard, and IMO the citizens will let their dissatisfaction be known through the coming election.

In summary, economic inequality is tolerated more DUE to there being an opportunity for each of us to climb the same ladder. Political inequality is not tolerated because it removes opportunities.

"Equality of results" doesn't make sense.

1) Some people care, work hard, others don't. You can't have people who do not care and do not work getting the same wages and benefits as people who sit around on the couch all day.

2) Society would degenerate into a very primitive form if all jobs paid equally and got the same benefits. You couldn't have a democracy for one thing.

Therefore equality of opportunity is the most ideal goal you can hope to achieve, in this context.

Stuh 505 is right on the money!!

Equality of results is not workable. Equality of Opportunity is what makes our country great.

For a moment, let us apply equality of results to basketball--That would be ridiculous, would it not?

It is equally as ridiculous to think that all groups should make the same.

The latest US Median Income statistics show that although Whites have a median family income of 51,000--ASIANS have a median income of 61,000- TEN THOUSAND A YEAR MORE!!!

Culture that values education and hard work will win every time!!!

It is more than just economic. It is a matter of life and death.

Infant mortality rates.

Massachusetts. White mothers. 4.5/ 1000 live births.

District of Columbia. All mothers 11.3
Louisiana. All mothers 10.3
Mississippi. All mothers 10.3.

That's about six/thousand extra grieving friends and family for last three states. Consume and kill. Out of sight,out of mind. Cut taxes.

Re: Americans More Willing to Tolerate Economic Inequality

School essay, eh? Good luck!

Probably just a mistake in writing, but this doesn't make very much sense...

Anyway, there is a problem with your viewpoint. How much does a tax collector make in a year? And how much a garbageman? Which of the two jobs do you reckon is the most important?

Cleaning personnel are usually paid low wages. Is that because they do not care?

And what is it we should care about to get the best wages and benefits?