Fairness and entitlement

My thoughts are not noble they are based on what I would call fairness. What does this word "fair" mean and why should we strive for it
Of course you are right, entitlement is a tricky concept. Is the person who lives in a remote rural village entitled to clean water, medical assistance,ect ect.  

In a remote primeval forest in the middle of Borneo clearly the concept of a shared entitlement is limited by the structure and the interaction across the populous and its governmental stretch.

In a country like South Africa there is a 
reasonable expectation that fundamental 
services should,reach across the nation and 
the nation set aside resources to make this 
happen.


In much more integrated societies like the USA and Europe it is now taken for granted that certain standards have a place in our estimation of that society and respectively in the way the people living in that society expect to benefit from the economic engine. Jobs, minimum wages rules regarding employment including the rights of the employed whilst they are employed.
The fact that many of these societies are in trouble, financially, obviously effects the ability to maintain the benefits that accrue to those, not living in Borneo !!



The economic engine needs many inputs not least from the common man. If only the likes of Lloyd Blankfein could manage without the man who puts his car together,mends the road he uses on his way into the office,produces the light bulb to light his way into the office, pay the guard who secures his working papers,and even the out of sight cleaner who sees that his waste paper basket is emptied. He relies on them and they rely on him.  The difference of course is in his reward for his contribution to the money go round.  There has been an unacceptable widening of the gap between the ordinary worker and the men and women at the top.


Apart from inherited wealth, in the 60/70s, the top management pay across the board compared to their employees was in the region of 5 times. In the 80s, 10 times. 
In the 90s, 15 times. Today the multiplier is 200. 
This is outrageous and has distorted everyone's concept of what is fair !!!!

If, as you say, we must claw back on entitlement, lets start with Mr Blankfein.