Does Capitalism Inevitably Produce Inequalities?

[quaker bill]

160. A better question would have been "does capitalism inevitably produce injustice"

No economic system that has so far been implemented at scale has produced equality. I do not think that strict equality is even desirable.

Among the groups that initially gathered to form Quakerism was a group called Levellers. They believed in equality of outcome. Quakers on the other hand united around integrity and social justice. Early Friends were not paragons of virtue in this regard and we are still learning what this commitment means today. In the past it meant Abolition of Slavery, Woman's Sufferage, and the Civil Rights movement, what it means now is always an open question, but it has never meant economic levelling.

Friends have long been good with the notion of an honest and reasonable profit. If one happens to become wealthy while treating workers fairly, being a good environmental steward, and doing good business at an honest and reasonable profit, Friends would have no concern. Injustice and exploitation of people or the environment would be a major concern.

So a better question to discuss would perhaps be "at what level does inequality become injustice?", and "does capitalism inevitably produce injustice?"

For the record, I think unfettered capitalism generally does produce injustice.