sir1963:
dickytim:
mattwnz:
Work hierarchy, and big pay scale differences, is such a contradiction to the PC world we live in. Supposedly everyone should be treated equally, no matter what their status. But in the work environment, this is is totally different. Some progressive companies in the USA mainly, are removing hierarchies, and paying everyone the same. I suppose that is where a living wage comes in.
This is bordering on communism, the biggest downfall of paying everyone the same, is you take that incentive to improve out of the mix.
I am not saying some people wont improve for self improvement sake, but the fair majority will plod along day in and day out doing the bare minimum to keep their jobs, much like a lot do now but now they are paid the same as someone who strives to do the best they can for their boss and the company they work for. There needs to be a shift in thinking, but don't reward the slack at the expense of the hard working!
The US top tax rate from about 1930-mid 1960's was over 90%
It did not discourage people from working harder/longer
It did not stop people from building huge amounts of wealth (eh howard hughes)
It did not damage the economy (in fact that period was probably the most vibrant)
The trickle down theory has failed to work, in the USA wages in real terms are less then they were in the 1970's
Management is often never held accountable for their actions, they make decisions that can take years before the damage shows, but they have moved on a year or more before and never suffer the consequences
"Hard Work" is grossly misused , try seeing how many managers can cope with a day in a coal mine, digging post holes, lifting the elderly. There are a LOT of jobs that are VERY hard, but pay minimum wage.
Research has shown the wealthy are generally less honest less generous, less sympathetic than the average worker
Also
Raising the minimum wage has no negative impacts
http://www.dol.gov/featured/minimum-wage/mythbuster
All very good points! But I suspect that some here who have personal belief systems they are not even aware of, will dismiss and minimalise them. And so they will pretend there is no solution to societies problems, all the while benefitting from the very problems themselves at the expense of others.
That is the REAL problem here. Not that there isn't enough resources, or that people will "have no incentive".