Disputation on the efficacy and fairness of non-egalitarian distributions of wealth and the allowance of corporate influence in the peoples

government
1. When our founding fathers promised the pursuit of happiness, they promised it for all 2. That we dont have the right for happiness, but rather an equal opportunity for its pursuit 3. Equal opportunity requires a level playing field; that no contestant gets a head start 4. Its an impossibility for every person to start from the same point, that some will inevitably begin with advantages over his fellow man 5. But that we must strive to correct this unjust distribution of opportunity, and tend towards an egalitarian society 6. Unequal opportunity arises from unequal starting positions 7. Some are born princes and other born paupers 8. That it is of through no merit or fault that they are born this way 9. Thus it is intrinsically unfair to crown one and tax the other 10. Success often comes through hard work and determination 11. It also comes through luck, and often luck is the major factor 12. That we should reward those who arent lazy and provide goods and services worth another mans money 13. But that no mans success is entirely driven by his work ethic 14. That success often comes to those who won the social and genetic lotteries 15. To win the social lottery is to be born into a functional and wealthy family that can afford opportunities that most cannot 16. To win the genetic lottery is to be born with certain intelligence, health, or other characteristics that are not derivative of any particular action

17. Winners of these lotteries have an unfair opportunity for the pursuit of happiness relative to losers 18. To reduce the outcomes of social and genetic lotteries, we must level the playing field such that the pursuit of happiness is equal 19. Success also depends on social goods provided to he who would be successful 20. Roads for shipping, schools for learning, police and courts for protecting, and countless other services provided by the rest of society allow this success 21. That no one finds success in absence of these social goods and services 22. Thus success requires hard work, winning of the social and genetic lotteries, and social goods provided by others 23. That occasionally hard work isnt necessary, as exampled by heirs to great fortunes 24. Because of these external factors, one can claim varying degrees of credit for their success but never 100% 25. The piece of your success determined not by you - but by opportunities provided by others and luck - is the piece you should wish to provide others so that they may have the same chance at success 26. One cannot know beforehand whether he will win the social and genetic lotteries 27. In an unequal society, that leaves the chance that one will be born a pauper 28. That it is in ultimate moral fairness as well as practical self-interest to devise a system where everyone begins as close as possible to the same starting line 29. In starting at the same place, we provide all people with the equal opportunity at the pursuit of happiness 30. That none should be unfairly advantaged or disadvantaged 31. By providing an equal starting point we allow everyone an equal opportunity for their own dreams, whatever they are

32. No one inherently deserves happiness over others 33. It is impossible for a society to provide happiness itself, but we can provide an equal chance at its pursuit 34. Liberty, Justice, and the Pursuit of Happiness must be given to all equally and fairly 35. Those who find the current system just have 36. Those who find it unjust have not, and those that acknowledge them 37. A democracy is when no mans voice is worth more than anothers 38. That regardless of wealth, education, power, respect, heritage, lineage, connections, tennis shoes, or the color of your suit, each person gets one and only one vote 39. Free speech is a central liberty that we must protect 40. Through rhetoric, argument, and reason should one be allowed to influence others decisions 41. But the ears of the government must remain neutral; respecting only constitutional protections and the voice of the people 42. Through wealth and power, corporations inequitably influence government 43. This influence removes voting power from the people, giving de facto votes to corporations 44. Corporations, notwithstanding the questionable corporate personhood, should not have any voting power whatever 45. That by allowing corporate influence, we devalue our democracy, our country, and our people 46. Every individual who reads this has been negatively affected by corporate influence in government - by a reduction in the power of votes 47. A reduction in the power of votes is unacceptable 48. We have created a system whereby wealth begets wealth, and wealth controls or influences government 49. Personal and corporate wealth deserve no role in government or the political process for it

diminishes the power of the poor, an antithesis idea to democracy 50. There is a struggle between free speech and influence of wealth in government 51. That on one hand, one should be free to speak as he pleases, especially if its political speech 52. On the other, wealth allows the megaphone of speech to become disproportionately large through the purchase of advertisements, media channels, and so forth 53. For this reason, he who is rich stands a far greater chance at election 54. If we limit this, we limit free speech. If we allow it, we limit the power of the poor. An appropriate balance can and should be made 55. A system of government determined by wealth is no democracy at all 56. If we wish to maintain a democracy, we must hastily diminish the influence of wealth in government 57. Individuals often lack the power to influence government, and it is through impersonal corporations that money most often rears its ugly head 58. The government is currently having an affair with big business, that cold mistress, abandoning the vows made to the people 59. Big business, corporations, entrepreneurs, profit seekers, and this wonderful experiment we call capitalism are useful for civilization 60. But capitalism, like all things, must be taken in moderation and therefore needs a heavy dose of regulation 61. True laissez-faire economics leads to monopolies and corporate warlords 62. The opposite, for its part, leads to bad incentives and an unmotivated work force and lack of innovation 63. Our trade should be free (as we ourselves should be. They go hand in hand), but only limitedly so. A balance must be made between free trade and regulation 64. Like society itself, we must force the economy to be free. Anarchy and totalitarian systems of

trade both lead to suboptimal outcomes. We cannot simply stand back and watch 65. A healthy bit of capitalism leads to growing economies, which leads to progress in technology, science, art, and other areas. We should not fear capitalism 66. We should disapprove, however, corporate influence and the influence of wealth in our government 67. Government should be on the side of individuals and on the side of society as a collective 68. By allowing corporations to tickle its fancy, the government is breaking a promise to serve exclusively its people 69. Governments should be slaves to the people - not the other way around 70. The outcome of corporate influence is irrelevant; it is intrinsically immoral 71. We should not be content if corporate influence leads to positive outcomes, for the method in which those outcomes came about are anathema to our democracy 72. That it is against our social contract to transfer the power away from individuals and into the hands of those entities with wealth, especially given earlier disputations as to whether that wealth was earned 73. We must strive to one day pride ourselves on living in a society where all have equal voice, equal liberty, and equal opportunity for the pursuit of happiness 74. To achieve this end, we must heavily regulate corporations, including preventing interlocking directorates and other causes of perverse incentives 75. That to ensure equal opportunity, we must ensure equal education for all. Some public schools are better than others, and some lose the opportunity of a college education because their family is poor. These are morally deplorable and we must make equal education an utmost priority 76. That to ensure equal opportunity, we maintain or increase the estate taxes such that we dismantle any aristocracies or royalties. One should not be given more opportunities because of the work of his great great grandfather, and it would be unfair if he was 77. That to ensure equal opportunity, we spend sufficient resources to help those that are down or born into poverty, sickness, or other conditions outside their control. It is easier for the son of a

tycoon to contest welfare than it is for a child raised by an impoverished single mother to eventually earn a degree 78. That to ensure equal opportunity, we spend sufficient resources on infrastructure, energy, defense, police, and other social goods to allow a maximal and equal opportunity for everyone to achieve happiness. 79. That to ensure equal opportunity, we spend sufficient resources to provide health care for illness. If one dies due to cancer he couldnt afford to cure, it is obvious that this person had less opportunity than the ill son of a tycoon. We additionally must spend sufficient resources to educate citizens about health risks and hold individuals responsible in some capacity for knowing damages to themselves that places an unnecessary burden on the system 80. That to ensure equal opportunity, and to help offset these egalitarian insurances, we must increase taxes on the well-to-do. A flat tax system disproportionately taxes the poor, and our current tax system is unsustainable. An increase of taxes to the highest brackets will help make the next generation start on an even keel 81. That to ensure equal opportunity, we afford rights neutrally to all American people, without discrimination of any kind. Rights should not be defined to include only certain types of people, as this affords others a disadvantaged opportunity for the pursuit of happiness 82. That to reduce corporate influence, we sever all informal ties between government and business. Government can hire corporations only for official government business, such as constructing roads 83. That to reduce corporate influence, we ban all corporate contributions and lobbying that involves money, gifts, flights, food, or other equivalency. Corporations should be allowed to voice an opinion, but money should in no way be involved. 84. That corporations only do what they do because they can, and therefore changes must be made in Washington to prevent unfair influence. It is corporate greed which incentivizes corporations to grow. Greed in Washington is the greed of concern 85. That to reduce corporate influence, we severely regulate corporations such that we prevent any future financial crises of the magnitude of the 2008 crisis. A lack of regulation led to a collapse of the system, necessitating bailouts and safety nets to avoid a depression. While these bailouts were necessary, they are morally dubious and it was a lack of proper regulation that led to their need in the first place

86. That to protect the ideals of democracy, we separate money from politics 87. That offenders of this separation between government and the influence of money - whether in the government or not - be punished under new laws 88. That congress should be banned from granting itself raises. A suggested alternative is that every member of the legislative branch makes a salary equal to the average individual income in the country. This way, they are directly incentivized to increase jobs and the average income 89. That a strict tax code is enforced and loopholes are closed so corporations cant unfairly avoid their tax burden 90. That if shadow banking is eliminated entirely, and banks see increased transactional regulation, we will prevent systemic abuse 91. The best way to ensure liberty for all is to ensure equality for all, in as many ways as we can 92. One would not stand by idle with a basket full of bread as paupers starved all around him 93. There is no 99% and 1%. There are people who want equal opportunity and people who dont, and they neednt fall into categories of wealth 94. It is our society, our country, and our government. The people will take it back eventually. It is up to the government whether it is an easy or difficult transition 95. It is clear the current way of things is unsustainable and undesirable. We can create a happier and more productive society if we work together. 99% + 1% = 100%. E Pluribus Unum 96. Police brutality is a catalyst for revolution. One should think wisely before using it

97. It is difficult, but not impossible, to conduct strictly honest business - Mahatma Ghandi 98. Anyone can become angry that is easy, but to be angry with the right person at the right time and for the right purpose and in the right way that is not within everyones power and that is not easy - Aristotle 99. To relent before fairness is commonplace, equal opportunity is mandatory, and the government once again answers to its people is to accept failure

Mr. Grey @greymr These theses are observations and suggestions from one person, and are not to be taken as a comprehensive list of considerations. We live in a country where were permitted and encouraged to do this, and there is nothing more admirable than that. If we wish to preserve these freedoms, we must rid the stench of corruption from our government. The great monopoly in this country is the monopoly of big credits. So long as that exists, our old variety and freedom and individual energy of development are out of the question. A great industrial nation is controlled by its system of credit. Our system of credit is privately concentrated. The growth of the nation, therefore, and all our activities are in the hands of a few men who, even if their action be honest and intended for the public interest, are necessarily concentrated upon the great undertakings in which their own money is involved and who necessarily, by very reason of their own limitations, chill and check and destroy genuine economic freedom. This is the greatest question of all, and to this statesmen must address themselves with an earnest determination to serve the long future and the true liberties of men. -Woodrow Wilson, 1911