Maximum wage?
Lon | December 28, 2006
Flipping through an issue of the Futurist, i stumbled across this revolutional concept for closing the wealth gap (ie. how in the United States 1% of the population holds more wealth than the entire bottom 90% combined).
In an article by Sam Pizzigati (www.toomuchonline.org) he proposes a ten times rule for a moving maximum wage. In this approach, the income ceiling is tied to the income floor. The wealthy could increase their incomes even with a maximum wage in place. To realize this increase however, the wealthy need only to convince Congress to raise the minimum wage, because the higher the minimum, the higher the maximum. By advocating for the nation’s poorest workers, the wealthy would have advocated for themselves.
There is some innovative income tax guidelines along with Pizzigati’s propsoal, but that’s the gist of it.
Of course, this still doesn’t completely deal with the root issues of greed in the human heart, but at least it would be a step towards helping people see that they are a part of everyone else in this global community.
I find this principle applies in many realms; spiritually, organizational, environmentally, etc.
Can you imagine a future when people embrace the reality that the richness of their own journey in life was dependent upon the last, the lost, and the least that surround us?
Lon, Good thoughts but it would take a lot for something
faithuntamed | December 28, 2006Lon,
Good thoughts but it would take a lot for something like that to work. Assuming a person worked hard and would give an honest days work for an honest days pay. My fear is something like that could eventually lead to socialism and that innovation and technological advances would be slowed. In theory though, the idea has merit and is worth discussing.
For starters, congress could put a flat tax in force and allow all of us to save money on our tax prep (especially ministers) and do our taxes on a 5 x 7 index card. What a great step that would be. Japan’s been doing this for years with great success.
Be blessed brother. Hope your family is doing great!
If you haven't read Singer's article on giving, you should.
jake | December 28, 2006If you haven’t read Singer’s article on giving, you should. It was excellent. I’m going to have to vote against a flat tax; billionaires can be taxed much heavier than me and me more than others.
http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/17/magazine/17charity.t.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5070&en=6a571bdabf3c232c&ex=1167368400
faithuntamed - agreed, I don't know how anything like that
Lon | December 29, 2006faithuntamed - agreed, I don’t know how anything like that would ever happen. maybe that could be set up if we planted new cities. and you’re right, it would likely slow down technological innovation, but in place of innovative ways of relieving poverty… i just might opt in for.
Hey Jake, I’ve seen the link before, but haven’t read it yet, i definitely will be now.