this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2024
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On a plate (lemmy.world)
submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
 

Author: Toby Morris

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[–] [email protected] 18 points 3 months ago (14 children)

I absolutely agree with this comic, and in a lot of ways I was the kid on the left.

I struggle with the solution though. Isn't it the purpose of all life about giving your offspring a better chance?

When we give the kid on the right more opportunity, the left side will keep increasing their investment until it's lopsided in their favor again.

Maybe it's not about trying to reach some theoretical absolute equity, but keeping the distribution at a healthy balance so that one side is not completely locked out of the game. That's healthier for the whole community too since healthy competition ensures there's progress.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 3 months ago (10 children)

The solution cannot be only based on providing more opportunities to achieve equity of chance. To me, (financial/professional) success cannot and should not be the thing to strive for solely. We cannot all be attorneys and doctors and high achievers. We cannot expect a good life for all if everyone strives to be in the top 10% of society and this is the prerequisite for a good life and success, because by definition, this leaves 90% out.

So if you really want to have a good life for all, we need to stop the idea that you need to attain some artificial definition of professional success in order to have a good life, and provide a livable, worthy life for everyone - especially if they put in the time to work and contribute to society. If a person is working 40 hours a week, i.e. gives up 40 hours of their life and free time, why should it matter whether they work as a cashier, collect trash, or work as an attorney. In every case, they have a crucial role in society.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 months ago (4 children)

Well the first naive argument against that would be, why would anyone work hard to become an attorney if it doesn't pay more than anything else? Why spend years in school if it's not going to get you ahead?

I guess in the star trek universe you do it because you like it?

I want to believe maybe that might work?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 months ago

why would anyone work hard to become an attorney

Do you really think becoming an attorney is harder than, say, cleaning toilets 40h/week? I finished my master‘s degree in physics recently. Has it been stressful? Sure. But I could mostly choose my own rhythm to work, had a healthy balance of exercise and leisure, and had coffee breaks all the time. I know a carpenter and some farm workers, and I would have chosen uni over their work at any time. And chances are, once I get a „real job“ it will still be less hard than working on a field.

Wages are mostly a measure for how replaceable you are, not for how hard the work is.

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