Chir0n: "@Luddite: China, the Soviet Union and Cuba (and the rest) are not the inevitable outcomes of Communism or Marxism, but the inevitable outcomes of corruption and the greed of a powerful minority, which is much the same problem we're having here in the capitalist west".

But the fundamental difference is Liberal capitalism does possess the ability to change into something more socially acceptable, plus Liberal capitalism also has the electorate to take into account?

The more money you are paid + the more senior a role you are given= the less people there are around you who understand you, and more people who are jealous as they think they for whatever reason deserve what you have more, and because they don't know what you're doing they assume you are doing nothing

tl:dr
haters gonna hate

If trickle down economics works why is the income equality gap getting worse?
Surely the issue here is not capitalism or Marxism but but a sense of morality and justice. It is plainly unjust that one person earns 42 times that of someone else for what seem to be (at best) uncertain reasons. Capitalism is useful form of redistribution but given the weakness in human nature needs help. Public debate, transparency, and shared decision making should be the norm - commercial sensitivity the exception

So where does this leave public policy on the issue?
What issue? There is no issue as as far as I can see.. Executive types merely enjoy and exploit the same rights to privacy any ordinary member of the public may expect.

How do we unbundle that, one wonders. There is one way, I suppose.. but it's just too awful to mention..

I can categorically say I am NOT one of the 1%.
When are the Tories ever going to learn that voluntary schemes never work; what we need is more regulation in the financial sector, and to get tough on tax dodgers.
Dave promised clear and transparent govt, just like Labour promised an ethical foriegn policy; and we're still waiting.

We all fully understand the failings of liberal capitalism, but when you look across the killing fields of Marxism at the alternative.. One shudders, and say 'well it could be an awfully lot worse'.

I wouldn't call that "liberal" capitalism, but family old money and corporate monopolies are the new "old money" are the alternative to truly liberal capitalism AND Marxism/Communism.

It very often seems to be agents, friends, hangers-on and head-hunters. How many senior posts are filled by "highly talented", must have people? However when the question is asked about what they have actually done, no-one is really sure but they do know that they are highly talented! Very often they are pushed by head-hunters (agents in the sportsworld) and it is an enormously lucrative merru go round.
Whatever the reasons - for the most part they are not particularly talented, they merely have an over-weening arrogance and sense of entitlement coming from, I can only imagine, background and education.

In Norway you can look up anyone's annual income and tax on a government website. Lots of social pressure against disproportionately high salaries, yet they have a highly entrepreneurial society and plenty of wealthy people who aren't shifting their money abroad and dodging taxes.

"Trickle down' is one of the biggest lies they elite spread. How does a rich man buying a $100k Swiss watch, or a $150k foreign car help the working class?

It is the common people who buy the vast majority of non-durable goods that fuel the economy... not high priced luxury items manufactured in a foreign country, or lavish holidays to the Bahamas.

What a crock... you'd have to be oblivious to no see through this lie.

Remember the Kennedy slogan. "A rising tide lifts all boats."
Luxury yacht or dingy. Surprised the Tories haven't stolen this political aphorism.
The Edwardian elite always dressed down in public. We blame the change on 'society columnists' and the Bright Young Things of the Twenties.
Look where all this publicity got us - the Great Depression.

Old Git

"How much did you earn last year, Sarah Castell? Show us your tax return or you're just another hypocrite."
No reply = affirmative to hypocrisy.
Don't bother reading her crap in future.

jusayin

@David

Voodoo Economics or supply-side economics, are for the feeble minded, who believe in rainbows, unicorns or fairies.

If the tide rises, and you haven't got a boat, only means one thing, drowning.

Luddite is an expert in the economics, in the same way Freddie Starr is a expert of computer engineering.

Chir0n: As with all religion, the worst advertisement for Socialism is its adherents.

@Lox
Hey, sorry to rain on your Randian parade, but the 3 guys employed to make that $100k watch in Switzerland or the 5 guys at the Ferrari plant mean jack compared to that same coin spent at the working class level... where $100k will buy 5 cars and employ 20 people.

Maybe you need to further your primary education to grasp such a simple concept... dunno.

Personally i would like to see greater incentives for Philanthropy, I would like to see new charities set up, helping all of society rather than further taxes, this has the power to transform society, this could bring society together in a way that the state could never achieve.