[PEN-L:33226] Re: Re: Re: Re: Bush Administration On The Poor: Pay More Taxes!

[Doug Henwood <dhenwood@xxxxxxxxx>]

Ellen Frank wrote:

> But shouldn't living standards be determined by
> what people contribute?  And shouldn't people who
> contribute more get more?  Rather than being
> penalized for their hard work and success?

Are you channelling your students, or your own inner thoughts here?
I'm guessing the former, because I can't believe you think there's
much relation between "contribution" and reward, or hard work and
success. I'll bet lots of your students work their butts off, and
come from families that do too. And what do they have to show for it?
Though I suppose there's a psychological angle here - they're
ambitious, want to join the upper ranks, and think that they'll be
able to someday by virtue of their hard work, since virtue is
rewarded. But it isn't. Most people die in the same income quintile
they were born into, or very close to it.

Doug