I like the discussion about the importance of status and the role it plays in our relationships and interactions. Money is (or is supposed to be, prior to FED manipulation), a ledger system for keeping track of who provided value to others. Using it as a marker for status within a group makes a lot of sense, if it accurately reflects value provided to others in the group.
Lower Status Individuals Are More Accepting of Disadvantageous Income Inequality
I wonder, is that because they feel they deserve a lower status (rightly or wrongly)? Does a poverty mindset have anything to do with this finding?
It should be interpreted as a signal that the social or economic system is deeply flawed and prone to failure. The long term viability of such a system is at risk.
You lose me a bit here. Describing what is doesn't necessarily indicate a failed system. It also doesn't indicate a solution either, it's just what is. Although many like to combine the two directly, you can have social systems separate from economic systems, though they are obviously closely related.
For example: Voluntaryism as an economic system (mutually beneficial free trade, personal and private property rights, etc), allows for the social system of communism in terms of a group of workers coming together to own their means of production, redistributing their own earned value among their own community based on needs, etc. Communism, as I understand it, does not allow for the economic system of Voluntaryism and its understanding of property rights.
I was very close to including research that draws a distinction between status and power. As you point out, status can be understood as a function of the value provided to the group.
(I hope that came out alright... doing this from my phone)
Interesting. I think this may highlight a difference of opinion many AnCaps and AnComs have regarding the roll of money in society. AnComs may see it as a tool of powerful people to oppress others (which, as with any tool used by people intent on evil, is certainly true). AnCaps, on the other hand, see it as a non-coercive result of peaceful, voluntary, mutually beneficial trade, something which increases someone's status.
Maybe both are right and both are wrong in that the real problem is people intent on doing harm to others or, at the least, not looking out for those who can't help themselves.
Yeah, I think that's a good way of putting it.
I'd love to see your thoughts on this post by @xtester: https://steemit.com/steemit/@xtester/an-open-letter-to-the-community-in-defense-of-inequality