Everybody alway has good intentions. First, let me say, I think we live in the best time to be alive. I don’t share the idea that the world will end tomorrow or that personal happiness or ability to thrive is going to be solved by anyone other than myself. Personally, I think solving for what is best for the greatest number of people is misplaced and incredibly dangerous. It is a justification for Tyranny and human rights are a contingent rather than absolute.
“Philosopher Derek Parfit called it a repugnant conclusion, maximizing total happiness could theoretically justify a massive population living barely tolerable lives, just as long as the sheer number of people pushes the “total sum” of happiness higher than a smaller, thriving population.”
We can strive to do better. But, there is a shift in mindset that I think is hazardous and has been in part driven by social media. It allows you a window inside the very wealthy. Further, everyone is presenting a life of perfection that seems better than our own.
It is exacerbating what has already been a near 25 year focus on rights and privileges vs obligations and responsibilities. I don’t have the solutions to these problems nor do I see a lot of value in worrying about them. I think most individuals would be better off simply taking the small and deliberate steps everyday to build the lives they want.
Having said that, on a broader scale, the larger we build the social safety nets, the larger the amount of revenue required to sustain them. The tradeoff is many of the wonderful developments that occur when individuals are free to and sometimes even for basic survival pursue their ambitions. It results in an inevitable and unavoidable spiral. Great societies don’t start with collectivism and equity of outcome, they wither and die with them.
Beyond what might be mine and yours altruistic positions, there is a more sinister group that feeds on envy and power. There is a great danger to creating systems where it is difficult for the public and individuals to take back control.
I suppose, like in the world investing, some are trying to optimize for an outsized benefit (yield) at great risk, and others are trying to avoid outsized disasters. I’m mindful of the benefits of redistribution but wary of the downside.