Gross wealth inequity is a crime against humanity.
https://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2017/11/29/gilded-ages-are-not-times-of-human-flourishing/
@pzmyers So how do we punish those responsible? I favor the French solution.
@pzmyers @starbreaker
According to Aristotle's politics some ancient constitutions stipulated that the aristoi (aristocrats- rule by 'best' men) could not personally keep income more than 10x the income of the poorest citizen. They had to put excess wealth into public projects like baths, gyms, theaters. Drat, now I have to go chase that citation down!
@ewankeep @starbreaker @pzmyers although, remember, they would have had a *lot* of workers who weren’t citizens. Maybe the majority of adults.
@clew @pzmyers @starbreaker Citizenship in ancient times was not a wide franchise, to say the least. But we can learn from the past, both in the negative and positive. The fact that income caps and leveling schemes are found in Aristotle's politics at all is fascinating.
@pzmyers They might not NEED to be punished, but I suspect most of the rich will view confiscation and redistribution as punishment regardless of any efforts to persuade them otherwise.
We might as well keep some tumbrels and guillotines handy in case we need to give them something to cry about.
@starbreaker They don't need to be punished. They need their excess wealth confiscated & redistributed.