J. Stiglitz: The American Dream has become a myth

[Hawk66]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

I simply explained the difference between a 'Right' and a resposibility. I have no right to take from someone if he doesn't feel compelled to give. Doing so makes me a thief, no matter how I try to justify it. Would I steal to feed my family? Certainly. Does that make it my 'Right'? Certainly not.


Not all. Here in the U.S. we have a dichotomy. What the States can do, I would like to see them do. There can be Federal oversight, but the original plan for our National Government was that it would referee between the States and be in charge of foreign policy. I know that's a slightly different subject, and I'm not convinced I'm right (I never am). I only wanted to point out how I see the term 'Rights'.


Yes, he deserves a fair chance. Should you take him into your home? Yes, you should. Do I have the right to force you to raise him and pay his way? No, I don't. Is there a difference between forcing you to raise him and taking some money from everybody to pay for someone else to raise him? If you take money against someone's will, it's stealing. There are two different moral standards at war here, and both are right.

Ok, I can follow your point a little now, although I have not the same opinion or the same understanding of 'Rights' and 'Responsibility' as I described above.

For me all people have simply the right to have same starting conditions as practical matters allows. Else individual life is a lottery, like it is in both countries (U.S. and Germany) to a considerable degree.

Same starting conditions does not mean that the outcome is equal (or in theory like in communism). If somebody is constantly lazy and fortifies his given chances, then it is perfectly fine that his living standards are at a minimum.
If somebody has brilliant ideas, works hard etc. it is perfectly fine that he get rich like J.Stiglitz outlines.

You and August have misunderstood, what I wanted to express with Powell's life. The chances that he got even a medium-ranked officer in the army was a couple of factors more worse compared to his 'competitors'. Just read his book.