| This question <14|3> overall <15|17> Hans: <15|17>. |
| Question 14: Describe a situation in daily life in which the extraneous relation between wealth and wealth holder becomes an issue. |
| [16] Hans: Intelligence and capitalism. In response to AntonioGramsci's [3], I expressed the view, in [4], that a discussion of the relationship between intelligence and income would be a fitting continuation of the thread started by AntonioGramsci. Such a discussion is therefore fair game for question 14. Stuart's [14] took me up on this. I like his last sentence, which summarizes his results: |
| Under such a system [wealth based on intelligence] much of the distribution of wealth would be based upon chance. |
| I.e., such a system is not really desirable from the principles of human equality and fairness. On the other hand, Stuart also wrote |
| In ... our society, intelligence is one of the many determinants of how much wealth one acquires. |
| Even if you are born in the working class, if you are exceptionally smart and determined you have a chance to join the capitalist class. For the capitalists it is a good idea to share a little bit of their wealth with a few smart working-class newcomers. In this way, these dangerous intellectuals will not become leaders in the fight against the system. |
| Maybe the Busch phenomenon alluded to by AntonioGramsci is an indication that the system has become so corrupt that it is no longer able to attract the best and brightest into its leadership positions. The recent scandalous inflation of executive salaries points in the same direction: you really have to pay them extreme sums of money nowadays to do the dirty work for the system. Of course, such an incentive structure attracts the criminal and asocial elements (Enron), which makes the system even more corrupt. Are we in a downward spiral? |
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