John Rawls Original Position

The table below shows the average yearly income at three different wealth levels (high, medium, and low) in three societies (A, B, and C). Assume that you have no information about which group you will end up in, or about your relative odds of ending up in one rather than another. Under these circumstances, to which society would you want to belong?

Why would the people in Society C bother getting skilled work if they get paid the same as the guy who gathers shopping carts at the mall?

I chose society B. I believe society B illustrates an acceptable and healthy society and economy with a modest differentiation of high to low income. I believe those who have put the time and hard work into studying a particular field, the medical field for example, should be paid substantially more than a person who does janitorial work, don't you? Would you feel comfortable knowing that your Dr. was making the same amount of money as the janitor at McDonald's?
I am all for capitalism to an extent and profits are good.There has to be a moderate differentiation between the high and low incomes for a healthy society and economy. However, I do not believe in profiting at the rate of society A. Society A, reminds me of America. We have the majority of wealth going to 1% of the people and that needs to STOP! We need to balance out the wealth here in America, before the 1% ruin it for 100%. By balance out, I mean decrease the gap between the current high and low incomes and not distribute the wealth evenly.

The_Herban_Legend said:

I chose society B. I believe society B illustrates an acceptable and healthy society and economy with a modest differentiation of high to low income. I believe those who have put the time and hard work into studying a particular field, the medical field for example, should be paid substantially more than a person who does janitorial work, don't you? Would you feel comfortable knowing that your Dr. was making the same amount of money as the janitor at McDonald's?
I am all for capitalism to an extent and profits are good.There has to be a moderate differentiation between the high and low incomes for a healthy society and economy. However, I do not believe in profiting at the rate of society A. Society A, reminds me of America. We have the majority of wealth going to 1% of the people and that needs to STOP! We need to balance out the wealth here in America, before the 1% ruin it for 100%. By balance out, I mean decrease the gap between the current high and low incomes and not distribute the wealth evenly.

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So you want people to go to medical school, run up hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt and work for 70k?

A large grocery store manager gets paid more than that.

i haven't chosen because there is no information or reference as to the taxability of each society.

it's not the income as much, as it is the proportion of income taxed..that's where the problem lies.

however, my opinion is: society 'a' current..society 'b' doable..society 'c' not doable.

i vote 'b'..also, society 'b' at the low end would still allow for 'living' rather than 'a' or 'c'.

Harrekin said:

So you want people to go to medical school, run up hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt and work for 70k?

A large grocery store manager gets paid more than that.

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school is free = no debt.

schuylaar said:

i haven't chosen because there is no information or reference as to the taxability of each society.

it's not the income as much, as it is the proportion of income taxed..that's where the problem lies.

however, my opinion is: society 'a' current..society 'b' doable..society 'c' not doable.

i vote 'b'..also, society 'b' at the low end would still allow for 'living' rather than 'a' or 'c'.

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So you want a complete abolision of the middle class?

Despite free college, people are still not gonna become doctors to earn little more than double what a McDonald's till assistant earns.

Either that or they'll simply more abroad.

Padawanbater2 said:

I'm not sure the directions were clear, everyone seems to be answering which society they would rather live in based on the income levels when the idea is to answer the question of which society you would rather live in not having any information about which income bracket you would fall in. So if you pick society A, you might end up in the high income bracket making $200K, but you might fall on the low income bracket making $15K. The odds of ending up in the high income bracket might be 1/100 and the odds of ending up in the low income bracket might be 50/50, could be 60/40... you don't know. Forget about tax information for this question.

So are you willing to roll the dice and maybe end up making $15K in soceity A, or would you rather play it safe and pick society B, while you won't see that $200K, you're also guaranteed to earn at least $30K minimum. Or would you rather go with society C where everyone makes an equal amount of money? What, in your opinion, is the most logical cource of action to take when choosing which society to live in? Why?

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society 'c' with all equal (while nice to think) would be communism..someone would surely find a way to benefit from the system above and beyond therefore corrupting what was intended and not work.

i think society 'b', would still be the best bet with income close enough to each value; yet far enough to distinguish a doctor over burger flipper..flipping burgers does take skill though.

although..why would you? a doctor can't flip burgers; and vice versa..they're equally important..if you're not well you can't eat and if your well with no burger flipper..you die of starvation.

Harrekin said:

So you want a complete abolision of the middle class?

Despite free college, people are still not gonna become doctors to earn little more than double what a McDonald's till assistant earns.

Either that or they'll simply more abroad.

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always with this 'more abroad' shit..did someone of color move next door you and wreck your wee irish village?

Most people arguing in the thread are only looking at life through a monetary lense. Just because a doctor makes 70 k and a burger flipper makes 40k a year doesn't mean the doctor will stop performing his duties. Some people become a doctor for the money, I would rather them NOT be my doctor. I would rather have someone doing what they thrive to do rather than do something just to hit that tier of life.

Musicians for example, look at Kanye West, an "artist" that has most of his music written for him. He makes a killing as a clownboy but all he does is perform. I argue that he doesn't love what he is doing because he would put some effort into creating his own music.

Now a street performer who has perfected his craft, why doesn't he deserve any money. Is it because he can't market himself or he is just too drunk to make it to the show?

Who really knows the circumstances, it just seems like the people around me would be much happier and less likely to shoot up a school if they were able to follow their dreams and not societies expectations.

Toss in a fair taxation system with B and I would be all for it.

Clockboy Orange said:

Most people arguing in the thread are only looking at life through a monetary lense. Just because a doctor makes 70 k and a burger flipper makes 40k a year doesn't mean the doctor will stop performing his duties. Some people become a doctor for the money, I would rather them NOT be my doctor. I would rather have someone doing what they thrive to do rather than do something just to hit that tier of life.

Musicians for example, look at Kanye West, an "artist" that has most of his music written for him. He makes a killing as a clownboy but all he does is perform. I argue that he doesn't love what he is doing because he would put some effort into creating his own music.

Now a street performer who has perfected his craft, why doesn't he deserve any money. Is it because he can't market himself or he is just too drunk to make it to the show?

Who really knows the circumstances, it just seems like the people around me would be much happier and less likely to shoot up a school if they were able to follow their dreams and not societies expectations.

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kanye 2020!

Harrekin said:

So you want people to go to medical school, run up hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt and work for 70k?

A large grocery store manager gets paid more than that.

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That is not what I am saying. What I am saying is that the differentiation between high to low incomes should reflect society B. I am not saying the to cap earnings at $70k, what I am saying is if a Dr. Makes $200k, high income as in society A, then the low income should be a minimum of 35k-40k and not a mere $15k as society A stands (America).

The_Herban_Legend said:

That is not what I am saying. What I am saying is that the differentiation between high to low incomes should reflect society B. I am not saying the to cap earnings at $70k, what I am saying is if a Dr. Makes $200k, high income as in society A, then the low income should be a minimum of 35k-40k and not a mere $15k as society A stands (America).

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So you think the minimum pre tax wages should be approximately $700 a week?

That's batshit fucking crazy, and that's from a European.

schuylaar said:

always with this 'more abroad' shit..did someone of color move next door you and wreck your wee irish village?

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We've people of all colours and nationalities living here, and we don't even treat them like shit like you Americas do.

Harrekin said:

So you think the minimum pre tax wages should be approximately $700 a week?

That's batshit fucking crazy, and that's from a European.

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I can't live off $700 a week, can you? The point is, the gap between the high income and low incomes should resemble society B in relation to the gap between high and low incomes.

The_Herban_Legend said:

I can't live off $700 a week, can you? The point is, the gap between the high income and low incomes should resemble society B in relation to the gap between high and low incomes.

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You definately could live off $700 a week, are you high on crack or something?

Maybe you could live off $700 a week but I can't and for those that can, would be happy as a bug in a rug, like yourself, for receiving an honest wage for honest work at $700 a week.

The_Herban_Legend said:

Maybe you could live off $700 a week but I can't and for those that can, would be happy as a bug in a rug, like yourself, for receiving an honest wage for honest work at $700 a week.

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So a single person absolutely cannot live off $700 per week?

That's total bullshit.

Harrekin said:

So a single person absolutely cannot live off $700 per week?

That's total bullshit.

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I cannot live off $700 a week, if you can, then you will love society B.