Cancel Me for This: I Stand by Unequal Wealth.

By Sadhika on
Economic inequality often stands as a contentious thread, sparking debates that reverberate across ideological spectra. In a world that often echoes with the calls for economic equality, advocating for the tolerance of economic inequality may seem like a paradoxical proposition. However, before we dismiss this notion outright, let's embark on a journey of unconventional musings. 
The History of Ownership
The concept of ownership has evolved significantly throughout history, shaped by cultural, economic, and legal developments. 
3000 BCE - 500 CE: In ancient societies, ownership often revolved around communal or tribal structures, where resources were shared among the community. The advent of agriculture led to the establishment of private property, with individuals claiming land and possessions. 
500 - 1500 CE: Later in mediaeval Europe, feudal systems dictated land ownership, where lords granted land to vassals in exchange for service. 
14th - 17th centuries: The Renaissance saw the emergence of individualism and the notion of property rights as a fundamental aspect of personal liberty. The Age of Exploration and colonialism further complicated ownership as European powers laid claim to territories, challenging indigenous concepts of communal land use.
18th - 19th centuries: The Industrial Revolution brought about economic shifts, transforming ownership patterns with the rise of capitalism. The world witnessed legal changes codifying property rights and addressing issues of land distribution and intellectual property. 
In the contemporary era: Digital advancements and the sharing economy have challenged traditional notions of ownership, giving rise to debates on intellectual property in the digital age and the sharing of resources.
Why is Ownership Important?
It is important to sell the idea to people, especially to young people, that they can own something that everyone else may not necessarily have. The exclusivity of a possession is the precondition for wealth creation, and consequently, of economic growth. I make the case that you can’t have ownership, without economic inequality. 
Exclusive ownership allows individuals and entities to accumulate capital. The ability to own and control assets encourages people to save, invest, and accumulate wealth. This accumulation of capital is vital for economic growth as it provides the resources necessary for business expansion and infrastructure development.
The promise of exclusive ownership is a core idea of a capitalist society, and it serves as a powerful incentive for individuals to invest time, effort, and resources into innovation and entrepreneurship. Knowing that one can reap the rewards of their efforts fosters a competitive and innovative spirit. Competition always has winners and losers, rather than the supposedly ‘equal’ beneficiaries of a welfare state. This is why the Marxist criticism of capitalism in that it promotes inequality, is understandable, though not excusable. 
This makes capitalism sound awful to people who are particularly prone to compassion towards the dispossessed. In its defence however, a better way to put it is that capitalism tolerates inequality, rather than promote it. The promise of ownership provides a direct link between hard work and personal prosperity. Individuals are motivated to work diligently and contribute to economic activities with the expectation that their efforts will result in ownership of property or assets.
Property is Theft: An Insidious Idea
Pierre-Joseph Proudhon's famous statement, "Property is theft," reflects his anarchist and anti-capitalist philosophy. His statement oversimplifies the concept of property by categorising all forms of ownership as inherently exploitative and illegitimate.
Proudhon's assertion does not consider the possibility of voluntary and consensual transactions in the acquisition of property. In a free market, individuals can engage in mutually beneficial exchanges without exploitation, challenging the notion that all property acquisition is tantamount to theft. His philosophy also diminishes the importance of individual responsibility and hard work. This perspective could discourage personal initiative and the pursuit of success through honest means, as it suggests that any form of success is inherently unjust.
Such a belief, when put into practice, would not only justify an act of stealing someone’s property, but borders on placing a moral obligation to do so. We see this more and more in contemporary society with its growing rates of theft, shoplifting and lawlessness. People feel entitled to “equalise” wealth distribution through unauthorised means, because they believe that inequality is entirely a consequence of dishonest social and economic relations.
The principles against covetousness and stealing are deeply rooted in various religious and ethical traditions, including the Ten Commandments in Judaism and Christianity, Dharma in Hinduism and most other civilizations. The erosion of these traditional teachings, when combined with Marxist ideas, can result in a society where stealing and lawlessness are rationalised as a form of social justice. Societies based on Marxist teachings, which often espouse a secular ideology and position the State in the place of God, risk diluting the ethic of work, duty, and integrity. 
What Do We Get in a Society that Punishes Work and Success? 
People competing to lose? A scenario where the one who loses the most emerges as the winner? Or else a population dependent on government handouts and welfare programmes, without which they would be unable to sustain themselves, let alone provide for their family? The idea that property is theft and success is unjust contributes to an entitlement mentality, where individuals believe they are owed resources without necessarily contributing to the creation of wealth. This paradigm shift poses profound challenges to the foundational principles that once guided societies toward prosperity and ethical conduct.
In the grand performance of societal dynamics, we seem to be caught in a peculiar dance – a competition where losing is winning, and where success feels like a cosmic injustice.
Who knows, perhaps a more economically equal society of people is fairer. But one can't help but wonder, do those folks have the muscle for the economic heavy lifting? Or are they all equally mediocre—fed, clothed and housed by the State?

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