State of the parties as 2015 General Election looms.

[Beef Oven!]

I do agree with you that in general, if we must have markets, that the less distorted they are the better.
and yes, as a principle (if not always in practice) less government,and lower tax.

By jove, I think he's got it! Now where's that soggy GongGong!!?

[Richard Barrett]

money that has not been earned

... because somewhere it has been decided that they shouldn't "earn" enough, and therefore that (if IDS gets his way) it should be made difficult for them to have more than two children. I don't see why you're clinging onto this idea of earned versus unearned income. (In any case, the majority of IDS's wealth seems to derive from after-dinner speaking and from his wife's rich daddy. In what way is that "earned"?)

Class warfare? Can we keep the discussion a bit more contemporary, please?

Class warfare is very contemporary indeed, I'm sorry to have to say.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I do agree with you that in general, if we must have markets, that the less distorted they are the better.
and yes, as a principle (if not always in practice) less government,and lower tax.

I'm not sure about lower tax. Lower for whom?

We have a minimum wage. How about a maximum wage?

[jean]

I think you need to define 'earn'.

[teamsaint]

I'm not sure about lower tax. Lower for whom?

We have a minimum wage. How about a maximum wage?

lower as a proportion of GDP,but as a principle, and not at any cost.

Also,not as an excuse for the already undertaxed wealthy to pay less, which is of course how it is too often used.

the excesses of income inequality can surely be dealt with by tax?

[Richard Barrett]

I think you need to define 'earn'.

Quite.

[Beef Oven!]

... because somewhere it has been decided that they shouldn't "earn" enough, and therefore that (if IDS gets his way) it should be made difficult for them to have more than two children. I don't see why you're clinging onto this idea of earned versus unearned income. (In any case, the majority of IDS's wealth seems to derive from after-dinner speaking and from his wife's rich daddy. In what way is that "earned"?)
Class warfare is very contemporary indeed, I'm sorry to have to say.

Earnings are decided in the labour market, not mysteriously as you would have it.

After dinner speaking? Supply and demand!

If class warfare is very contemporary, who are the combatants, and what are the numbers involved on each side?

[Beef Oven!]

We have a minimum wage. How about a maximum wage?

Crikey, I thought Ayn Rand was cranky! Maybe not!!!

[MrGongGong]

Earnings are decided in the labour market, not mysteriously as you would have it.

Hummm

And you don't think that there's something wrong with this ?

IBS earns more than people who really make a positive contribution to society
something wrong with that don't you think?

[Beef Oven!]

Hummm

And you don't think that there's something wrong with this ?

IBS earns more than people who really make a positive contribution to society
something wrong with that don't you think?

Is there anything wrong with Rooney earning twice the basic annual pay of a consultant surgeon, in just 7 days?

[MrGongGong]

Is there anything wrong with Rooney earning twice the basic annual pay of a consultant surgeon, in just 7 days?

It all depends on whether (as many of the apologists for corporate greed mongers seem to think) you think that how much one earns is a measure of significance or skills.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Is there anything wrong with Rooney earning twice the basic annual pay of a consultant surgeon, in just 7 days?

I think you know the answer to this; otherwise you would not have brought it up.

[Beef Oven!]

I think you know the answer to this; otherwise you would not have brought it up.

I don't think there is anything wrong with it at all, because it's not a moral question. Pay is set by demand and supply, not some other emotional, vague, relative notion like, perhaps, worth or social value.

You are right that I know the answer to this.

[MrGongGong]

Obscene wealth IS a moral question.
I would take a guess that most of your top 10 democracies are more equal societies than ours.

Pay isn't set by supply and demand at all. Some people like to get together to defend their wealth and pretend that somehow they are "worth it".

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Pay is set by demand and supply, not some other emotional, vague, relative notion like, perhaps, worth or social value.

You are right that I know the answer to this.

Are worth and social values emotional and vague? I can't think of anything more important.