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Comment by jay_kyburz | Hacker News Reader

I don't think "class mobility" is a thing that we have to have. I don't think its a problem that needs fixing.

I also don't think its a problem that there is a big gap between rich and poor.

I _do_ think we need to make sure that our governments are well funded, and that it can afford to feed, house, and make safe all of its people, no matter how disabled, unlucky, or lazy.

I also think we need to have protections in place so that the wealthy can't use rent seeking behavior to feed on those with less money.

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> I don't think "class mobility" is a thing that we have to have. I don't think its a problem that needs fixing.

Really? If there were zero class mobility, that would mean that no matter how hard someone works, no matter how good their business ideas are, they'll never become more wealthy than their parents were when they were born (at least, compared to someone who sat around doing nothing). And it would mean that no matter how inefficiently or stupidly a rich person blows their money, they'll never become less wealthy than they already are. Bloodline would become a better predictor or wealth and status than luck, charisma, investment opportunities, or hard work.

Even if we lived in a world where even there poorest of the poor were provided for, I wouldn't be okay with zero class mobility. It would basically be acceptance of inherited birthright privilege.

When I hear class mobility, I think moving categories, not moving up and down in your own category.

I believe strongly that people need to be rewarded for getting out of bed in the morning and doing something productive. I fear the UBI because I think its human nature to choose to do nothing. I think people who claim people will still work on a UBI are kidding themselves.

So in context, I believe it's important that everybody's material wealth is going up. We don't need laws that somehow make it easier for you to go from nothing to a billion dollars somehow.

The evidence people do not prefer to be lazy. UBI studies show this too. Where is your evidence?

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