REDISTRIBUTION OR BALANCE WHICH IS IT?
WEALTH
What is to be gained by asking more of those whose wealth invests in our economy and employs our work force?
by william e. kelly Investors and employers believe that their taxes are too high and government
operations and social/subsidy programs need to be cut back or eliminated. The sense is that labor asks for more of its contributions to the bottom line than is reasonable. The premise is that they are a drag on the profit levels necessary to provide incentive, for them to invest in increasing output and thus new jobs. This premise underlies “Trickle Down” economics. Labor’s consensus is that workers produce, maintain, distribute and consume
the goods and services that make wealth building possible for investors and employers. Their position is that proportionate to their income and assets they pay too much tax and receive too little share of the profits to sustain the demand levels needed to increase output and the jobs inventory. This premise underlies “Trickle Up” economics. The reality is that BALANCE is the central element within which lies the ultimate solutions to a sustainable thriving economy, mutually acceptable living stan- dards and economic growth opportunities for all Americans. Lost in the debate is a third perspective offered by those disadvantaged who cannot achieve any of these goals without assistance from the more advantaged among us, the em- ployed, employers and investors. The truly difficult questions are, who decides who is capable of being responsible and who defines what responsible is? How do we fairly assess who is mentally and/or physically unable to be “responsible” enough to contribute to the balance and what responsibility does our society have for them? This question is too complex to pursue here. That said, trickle up and down camps can agree that BALANCE
requires a COMMON SENSE, RESPONSIBLE SHARING OF PROFITS between employee, employer and investor. What they can’t agree on is the definition of responsible common sense. It’s the dance of greed. The partner with the upper hand leads the dance, but historically that shifts from one camp to the other repeatedly. Taken to extremes, neither trickle up nor down stands alone. When either tries to, the economy falters. These extremes can be seen in Russia’s history where from the 17th-20th century monarchy, with a great concentration of wealth, was expected to but unable to sustain a social safety net for the vast majority of Russians, and this triggered an equally un- successful attempt by the working class to dominate the economic and political scene in order to spread the wealth among all citizens. Finally, we come to the key unanswered questions:
What is accomplished by demanding more from those whose standard of living is already SUFFERING AND IN DECLINE?
26 RAGE monthly | JUNE 2012
Who are the geese that laid the golden eggs? Which came first, the goose or the egg?
Who is asking for too much? I don’t have the answers, but believe we can hold vastly opposing perspec-
tives valid to our individual positions and do not need to agree 100 percent of the time. We only need to accept that mutual understanding and compassion are the key to mutually beneficial solutions. There is no 100 percent correct way for 100 percent of the people 100 percent of the time. There is only the best people can do with what they have.
Focus on how you can be the best that you can be, help others less advantaged
to be the best they can be and know how, when and where to identify and fill in the gaps between us to be the best united nation we can be.
THINK ABOUT IT!
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