Hard work = $250,000 ?

iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2006
Hard work = $250,000 ?
376
Fri, 10-24-2008 - 9:07am

I’ve read repeatedly that the $250,000 is hard earned money that the government has no right to tax. Personally, I don’t believe that hard work consistently results in high salaries and I’m not convinced that people who make more money work harder or deserve more than most people. Most people, I believe, do work hard and most people are rewarded with 25,000 – 45,000 salary. Not all some hard workers make more and some make less. What do you think? Is the Just World view valid?

http://www.princeton.edu/~rbenabou/beliefs7csend.pdf

most people have a strong need to believe that they live in a world that is just, in the sense that people generally get what they deserve, and deserve what they get. When confronted with data that contradicts this view they try hard to ignore, reinterpret, distort, or forget it —for instance by finding imaginary merits to the recipients of fortuitous rewards, or assigning blame to innocent victims.

Because of their imperfect willpower, individuals constantly strive to motivate themselves (or their children) towards effort, educational investment, perseverance in the face of adversity, and away from the slippery slope of idleness, welfare dependency, crime, drugs, etc. This is another recurrent finding from the sociological evidence. In such circumstances, maintaining somewhat rosy beliefs about the fact that everyone will ultimately get their “just deserts” can be very valuable. Furthermore, if enough individuals end up with the view that economic success is highly dependent on effort, they will ultimately represent a pivotal voting block, and set a low tax rate. Conversely, when individuals anticipate that society will carry out little redistribution, the costs of a deficient motivation to effort or savings are much higher than with high taxes and
a generous safety net. Each individual thus has greater incentives to maintain his belief that effort ultimately pays, and consequently more voters end up with such a world view.

For instance, data from the World Values Survey shows that only 29% of Americans believe that the poor are trapped in poverty, and only 30% that luck, rather than effort or education, determines income. The figures for Europeans are nearly double: 60% and 54% respectively. Similarly, Americans are more than twice as likely as Europeans to think that the poor are lazy (60% versus 26%).

Indeed, 59% of Americans agree or strongly agree that “in the long run, hard work usually brings a better life”; this view commands much less support in Europe, ranging from 34% in Sweden to 43% in Germany.

Is the “American dream,” according to our theory, just a self-sustaining collective illusion?

http://www.princeton.edu/~rbenabou/beliefs7csend.pdf

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iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Sun, 11-09-2008 - 12:38am

Teachers have an education and they make nothing. Most military officers have graduate degrees and make no were near $250,00.00. I guess general Petrus is a moron because he doesn't make that much either.


Teachers generally have Education degrees, which, if you look at the entering SATs, tend to have among the lowest scores.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-24-2008
Sun, 11-09-2008 - 6:34am

<<America has spoken and they disagree with the

iVillage Member
Registered: 05-05-2008
Tue, 11-11-2008 - 9:30am

"Nothing. Nothing "entitles" one to a high level of pay. Certainly not "stress"."


I'm not sure I agree with you on that. Several professions are extremely stressful and require employees to make life and death decisions every day. If there wasn't a financial incentive, why would people do it? Working under that type of stress is going to impact your quality of life in other areas, why shouldn't you be rewarded for that sacrifice?

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iVillage Member
Registered: 07-11-2006
Tue, 11-11-2008 - 12:11pm

There probably are jobs that incorporate financial compensation for stressful decision making, but it isn't a requirement. There are also many super stressful jobs that pay less than $40K.

On the job stress is NOT a key factor in determining salary level.

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The tolerance and understanding necessary to heal
must come from each and every one of us,
arising out of our everyday conduct until decency
reaches a flood tide. ~Muhammad Ali

iVillage Member
Registered: 08-25-2008
Tue, 11-11-2008 - 4:20pm
So what do you believe should be compensible factors?
iVillage Member
Registered: 01-18-2008
Tue, 11-11-2008 - 4:47pm
So what do you believe should be compensible factors?



 

 

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