But what happens when all the wealth created by the productivity goes to a few at the top?
If you are not being duly compensated, You should look for someone who is willing to pay more for the labor you're selling. By the way, how much of that $2000.00 worth of inventory did you personally pay for?
Consider my job. I make $8 an hour to sell and stock hardware. If I work for 8 hours and the store makes $2000 in profit that day, I get $64. If I work for 8 hours and the store makes $4000 in profit that day, I still get $64. I worked twice as hard, but saw none of the rewards.
You agreed to work for $8.00 an hour. If you would like a commission based job, look for one. You risk making far less than $8.00 an hour, but might make far more.
The owner, who's job was largely the same,
Is it? Are you responsible for getting the loans to buy inventory, paying the rent, paying the employees, making decisions, taking the loss when an employee or customer damages merchandise, collecting on bad checks, hiring, firing, taxes, complying with labor laws, staying current on product information, deciding what to carry, insurance, dealing with vendors, sales people and angry customers, and on and on. Did you invest your life savings in the hardware store? Do you risk losing your home if the store goes out of business? Tell me how your job compares.
takes all the extra money.
Extra? AAAAAHHAHAHAHAHhahahahaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!
Obviously you have no idea what it's like to run a business, especkially in a poor economy.
I don't consider it "CHARITY" for him to pitch in a little extra when full time workers still can't make ends meet.
But, Moooooooooommmmm! I neeeeeeeeeddd it... You agreed to work for $8.00 an hour. It's not your employer's job to make sure you spend it wisely, or to give you more money if you choose to live beyond your means.
If/when I make it to the top of the pyramid, I'll be happy to pay my share of the taxes toward healthcare.
I'm not holdiong my breath.
The "right" comes from my belief that a society has an obligation to look out for it's weakest members. I know you disagree with this point fundamentally though, we've had this conversation.
I believe that individuals have an obligation to care for the weaker individuals around them. I don't believe that government can fulfill that obligation, and in fact, makes it far more difficult if not impossible for individuals to do so. I do not believe that one individual or group of individuals has a right to demand or forcefully take what they have not earned from another individual or group of individuals.
By within their means I mean just that. Nearly all the poor people I know personally are way, way more frugal with their money than the middle class is, they just don't quite make enough for all the bills.
Nearly all, no make that all, the poor people I know have more than enough to meet their basic needs for food, shelter, and clothing. They want more spacious shelter, more privacy, nicer clothing, more convenient food, cars, phones, TV, etc. These are not needs. Let's just be honest about that. I can't imagine turning a hungry person from my door when I have food myself, but I feel absolutely no obligation to pay his rent while his parents have a perfectly good bedroom for him in their house.
