i honestly believe that when a company's profits skyrocket, people should get bonus'

[gwb72tii]

Sorry but this is just plain wrong. You may find a disparity between a man and a woman working for different companies, but that disparity can exist between two men as well. If every variable is the same, men and women are paid exactly the same. Show me one case where they aren't the same and you have gender discrimination which is in fact illegal. Really though, like I was saying in my first post about the so called wealth gap, you can't quantify wealth and put it into some statistics. The same can be said for compensation. You can't equalize every variable like you say has been done.

Hell, I know this is controversial but I think it should be said, maybe men and women are skilled at different things. Maybe the productivity of women is less than men in certain jobs. And likewise maybe the productivity of men is less than women in other jobs. Or maybe it's just a coincidence. When you compile statistics there is always going to be some sort of disparity between separate groups. One gender HAS to make more than the other and it just so happens that the statistics say it is men.

My whole point is that economics dictates everything. Racism, sexism, classism, etc. all take a backseat to money when it comes to dictating the way society works. That's where this whole thread started.

well there's a unique thought.
there is a difference between the sexes and between individuals.

[Kershaw]

You may find a disparity between a man and a woman working for different companies, but that disparity can exist between two men as well. If every variable is the same, men and women are paid exactly the same.

i have never seen you so wrong before. wow. have you ever researched this?
this is pretty well documented.

i personally think it's because most women arent as aggressive as men, that will constantly push for pay raises.

[RobertK]

Even equal opportunity doesn't really hold up to criticism. No two schools are alike, no two cultures are alike. Everybody has different opportunities.

If your culture glorifies poverty and choose to accept that then you've already chose your path. In the grand scheme of opportunity schools are a scapegoat. Public schools don't do shit to teach you how to handle money or be a successful individual.

You're attitude and approach to opportunity are the 2 most important factors and neither can be taught in school.

[Morrison]

Wealth is sort of an abstract term; it is poorly suited to measuring quality of life or equality.

Money and power are more easily quantified, and furthermore money is power. Two examples in which this is true are purchasing power and political power. I liken this phenomena to the wave-particle duality of light.

So what harm can come from few people having control of the majority of the money (power)? Do I really have to go any further?

So then you're saying well, that's cute and all, but what the hell can we do to change this without being unconstitutional? Fuck if I know, but then again it's not my job to know. Congress should be focusing on this though...rather than spending all their time trying to figure out which pro athletes are on steroids.

[frankenbeemer]

So what harm can come from few people having control of the majority of the money (power)? Do I really have to go any further?

You should also ask what benefits accrue from this. Where is the larger group of people with Steve Jobs' vision?

[herbivor]

You should also ask what benefits accrue from this. Where is the larger group of people with Steve Jobs' vision?

There are thousands if not millions of creative visionaries out there as gifted as Steve Jobs. What separate them from him is circumstantial luck. There are probably some brilliant people right now being born in Papaue New Guinea but because they are born there, they will never be the next Steve Jobs.

Sent from my IPad.

[Morrison]

You should also ask what benefits accrue from this. Where is the larger group of people with Steve Jobs' vision?

Why would I ask myself that? Steve Jobs' visionary brilliance wasn't a result of extreme money/power disparity. He was basically broke when he started out.

[LBJefferies]

i have never seen you so wrong before. wow. have you ever researched this?
this is pretty well documented.

i personally think it's because most women arent as aggressive as men, that will constantly push for pay raises.

Did you read what I am saying? I am saying that you can't equalize every variable and have accurate statistics. So no, it is not well documented.

This is a fundamental problem within statistics. There is ALWAYS something which cannot be mathematically accounted for which makes most statistics complete bullshit. As is the case with the OP's article.

I am trying to use economics and logic to figure out why there may or may not be a pay disparity between men and women. All things the same, I don't think there is a pay disparity. If there is, it is because of things like women taking lower risk jobs, and more sick days, not because of sexism.

[frankenbeemer]

Why would I ask myself that? Steve Jobs' visionary brilliance wasn't a result of extreme money/power disparity. He was basically broke when he started out.

Because you posed the question about harm. Jobs' success allowed him to control more resources than your average person, was that a bad thing? At what point in his career would you have redistributed his resources to reduce income inequality?

[frankenbeemer]

There are thousands if not millions of creative visionaries out there as gifted as Steve Jobs. What separate them from him is circumstantial luck. There are probably some brilliant people right now being born in Papaue New Guinea but because they are born there, they will never be the next Steve Jobs.

Sent from my IPad.

When the Dow Jones drops, income inequality between Papua New Guinea and the U.S. decreases. Does that somehow reduce poverty and corruption in Papua New Guinea, or increase opportunities for the citizens there?

[mar1t1me]

The problem is education. Our schools teach people how to read and write, but they don't teach people how to think critically.

Dangerous ground! People start actually thinking, and they might question religion, which is where the Conservative Right gets most of its energy. The religious guys have historically gone to great lengths to prevent it, including torture, murder, and promises of eternal punishment. Rather, they want nice, unquestioning, obedient workers. "Work hard and even though we won't pay you but a tiny fraction of what WE take home, don't worry! Your reward is in Heaven! We promise! So keep the faith.....OR ELSE." The Greatest Bullshit Story Ever Told.......


That noggin use will get you a one-way ticket to hell....

[herbivor]

When the Dow Jones drops, income inequality between Papua New Guinea and the U.S. decreases. Does that somehow reduce poverty and corruption in Papua New Guinea, or increase opportunities for the citizens there?

Yes

[LBJefferies]

Dangerous ground! People start actually thinking, and they might question religion, which is where the Conservative Right gets most of its energy. The religious guys have historically gone to great lengths to prevent it, including torture, murder, and promises of eternal punishment. Rather, they want nice, unquestioning, obedient workers. "Work hard and even though we won't pay you but a tiny fraction of what WE take home, don't worry! Your reward is in Heaven! We promise! So keep the faith.....OR ELSE." The Greatest Bullshit Story Ever Told.......


That noggin use will get you a one-way ticket to hell....

It's unfortunate that my economic preference is associated with a group of whack job religious freaks.

[Earendil]

Because you posed the question about harm. Jobs' success allowed him to control more resources than your average person, was that a bad thing? At what point in his career would you have redistributed his resources to reduce income inequality?

For most of Job's time as CEO that would not have been possible. Personally I think the way it was done for him is the way CEOs should be paid. He had a salary of $1, and the rest in huge stock options. Worth millions, yes, but only because the company did well. Thus even the CEO had a financial stake in the company.

I'm also not so such what Jobs ever did with his personal wealth. He either donated in secret, or was just too damn busy to make much use of it. He sunk his time into his career.

[Earendil]

Dangerous ground! People start actually thinking, and they might question religion, which is where the Conservative Right gets most of its energy. The religious guys have historically gone to great lengths to prevent it, including torture, murder, and promises of eternal punishment. Rather, they want nice, unquestioning, obedient workers. "Work hard and even though we won't pay you but a tiny fraction of what WE take home, don't worry! Your reward is in Heaven! We promise! So keep the faith.....OR ELSE." The Greatest Bullshit Story Ever Told.......


That noggin use will get you a one-way ticket to hell....

That would be the popes of the dark ages, and keeping people intentionally blind lead to a lot of death and war. Obviously not good, but not representational of any major form of religion before or after. Powerful and corrupt people may use the guise of religion to control people, but that doesn't mean they represent the religion, either in fact or spirit.