[quote=XBoxBoy]Is that true? It makes great rhetoric, but I don’t think history actually supports this arguement.
there are many revolutions that while arguing that their goal was improving the lot of the poor and middle class, did not accomplish this effect but instead made people overall much poorer. The Cultural Revolution in China comes to mind as an extreme example.[/quote]
I’m actually familiar with that part of story. Yes, the cultural revolution makes the country poorer (which happens to almost all revolution as it is a destructive force). But the lower/middle class’ status actually improves during the cultural revolution. The income gap is very small at that time and public service offering is at its peak. Any poor student can ride a train to Beijing to see Chairman Mao for free at that time, if they want…lunch/dinner provided.
The worker might get paid at only $10/month but the CEO are getting paid at $20/month. Besides, what’s the difference do money make? Everyone bought their essentials (food, clothes) with quota. It is not like when you have money you can buy imported wine.