The cause of all Australia's problems?

[Sventek]

Income Inequality is Bad for Society. Really Bad. » Sociological Images

[andymac]

Japan seems to be performing well in the majority of those measures which leads to the logical conclusion that social and financial equality is the basis for an environment in which people can create and enjoy animated tentacle rape porn.

Also, USA. Fucked to the core.

[GSX IN SHED]

Hi S,
Would it be fair to say that the same income differences and outcomes are apparent in smaller groups?
ie; congregations of individuals----small towns------larger cities etc...
Untill crime and mental health issues are raised or brought to our attention we don't accept them,and when we do we (higher income earners') seek punitive justice..or incarceration....
On a way too simple example; poor guy up the street (or from nearby suburb) sees my new K1000 and can't afford a skateboard,so steals my bike,to feel equal?? your thoughts.....?
Am I missing the point?

[Sventek]

I think that at least some of those problems would apply to any size group. Anonymity (or lack thereof) might affect some of them, though. The research is pretty clear that once a 'poor' person believes that there is no possibility to legitimately redress the imbalance (by working harder, for example), they will simply take what they want. There are also some indications that it's easier to justify theft if there is a significant income gap.

[xphread]

Although I am often sceptical of statistics and research data when its presented in a vague fashion... however the premise does make sense and from my travels of the globe, this correlation seems very evident.

Its why I am all for income based tax and not flat taxes.... and it gripes me when people spout on about "its just socialism/wealth redistribution by stealth!" etc

[dr00]

i wonder what the statistics would look like if you compared something like the average wealth of the poorest 10% with those factors. is it logical that if the poorest 10% were millionaires these graphs would look the same?

[tim the pool man]

I would imagine (with no research, just what I think I know) that the countries with the largest wealth gap are 3rd world countries? ie their rich are as rich as ours, but their poor have the tiniest fraction of what the "poor" in a country like Australia have?

[rod]

The article linked seems more an anti-US rant but anyway..... The US's problems now come from too much success in the preceding two centuries, allowing them the luxury of importing and growing-their-own a large portion of the population who are stupid and lazy. Looks like that the closer to the bottom left the country, the more closed that country is to outsiders?