I worry about concepts like this being discussed FAR too generally. Some rich people deserve some of their wealth, surely. But it’s hard to have the detailed discussions and compromises needed to agree on WHICH specific assets are undeserved and are therefore candidates for redistribution.
So we fall back on collective punishment and assert that, since some part of some wealth is not deserved, we are justified in taking a bunch from everyone who has any legible, take-able things. IMO, even if MOST wealth is undeserved, that doesn’t justify taking anything without identifying that specific thing as correct to take.
Proposal: Enact laws that prohibit illicit methods of acquiring wealth. (Examples: Theft, force, fraud, corruption, blackmail...). Use the law to prosecute those who acquire wealth via the illicit methods. Confiscate such illicitly gained wealth.
I worry about concepts like this being discussed FAR too generally. Some rich people deserve some of their wealth, surely. But it’s hard to have the detailed discussions and compromises needed to agree on WHICH specific assets are undeserved and are therefore candidates for redistribution.
So we fall back on collective punishment and assert that, since some part of some wealth is not deserved, we are justified in taking a bunch from everyone who has any legible, take-able things. IMO, even if MOST wealth is undeserved, that doesn’t justify taking anything without identifying that specific thing as correct to take.
Proposal: Enact laws that prohibit illicit methods of acquiring wealth. (Examples: Theft, force, fraud, corruption, blackmail...). Use the law to prosecute those who acquire wealth via the illicit methods. Confiscate such illicitly gained wealth.
Assume all other wealth is deserved.