Re: Poverty, Disparity, Aristocracy, Liberty, etc.

["Ted Schmidt, Buffalo State College" <schmidtp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

John Gelles wrote:

> Re: Disparity            The issue I hope we can address is the value to the
>             poor of the super-rich -- especially whether or not
>             the elimination of poverty is best pursued (a) in the
>             company of the super-rich or (b) in connection with
>             removing wealth from the super-rich (by income tax
>             or capital levy) and redistributing it to the poor and
>             lower middle class.
>
>             Perhaps Henry Liu and Ted Schmidt would say that
>             choice "b" could, with favorable effect on individual
>             liberty and the minimum material standard of living,
>             take the nearly 40% of this nation's wealth, (which
>             is, in fact, owned by one percent of the people) and
>             distribute it to the bottom 40% of the population,
>             especially to those truly in need.
>
>

John:
Yes, I would be in favor of a wealth tax which would be "distributed" to the
poor in the form of  more funding for education (all levels), head start, and
strengthen (change?) regulatory agencies that cater to business interest rather
than the needs of workers and communities (OSHA, EPA, etc.). I would also be in
favor of some kind of social wage "law," tying the wages of labor to
management's compensation.   Then there's campaign finance reform....

Ted

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