Srsly Wrong Ep 123 – Economic Inequality
Feb 15, 2018
The hosts explore a wild proposal for enforced equal bank balances, sparking debates on economic equality. They dive into the consequences of inequality, linking it to societal harms like crime and poor health. A comedic trip to 'Treasure Island' satirizes the ultra-rich, while serious discussions reveal how unearned income perpetuates wealth gaps. They advocate for policies like public capital pools, living wages, and corporate accountability to address the widening divide. Prepare for intriguing anecdotes that highlight class resentment and the need for reform!
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Will Reading Sets Episode Tone
- They play a recorded will reading where Sean inherits 99.99% and Aaron gets 0.01% of their father's estate.
- Aaron reacts with disbelief and the clip sets up themes of family wealth and inequality.
Equality Versus Reducing Harmful Inequality
- Shawn Villier and Aaron Wrong argue equality is ambiguous but reducing extreme inequality and guaranteeing basic needs is the pragmatic goal.
- They stress preventing systemic rent-seeking and regulatory capture to keep the social game fair.
Inequality Harms Society Wide
- Shawn outlines evidence linking inequality to worse health, crime, education, and social trust across countries and US states.
- He cites the Equality Trust and an IMF paper tying inequality to economic instability and the 2008 crisis.
