Property redistribution

Property redistribution is a term applied to various political policies involving taxation or expropriation of property from some in order to finance payments to others. Redistribution policies are usually promoted (in democracies) by claiming that less stratified economies are more socially just ("see also: [ [http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/redistribution/ Redistribution (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy) ] ] "); opposing ethical arguments consider the term a euphemism for theft, stating that stealing is still stealing regardless of what any group of non-owners (of the property in question) may succeed in obtaining via government intermediary, and that consequently redistribution of legitimately obtained property cannot ever be just. [ [http://www.anthonyflood.com/redist4.htm "Redistribution" as Euphemism or, Who Owns What?] " Philosophy Pathways," Number 65, 24 August 2003, by Anthony Flood] Supporters of redistribution of wealth would argue (especially those who push for reparations and similar programs) that the property in question was not obtained in a legitimate manner. Often people who argue this point, will look either to a country's history to find injustices that would disadvantage future generations (such as slavery) or to a country's culture to find inherit biases and marginalization (such as with females all over the world) which provide a need for action to rectify the situation. Some proponents of redistribution argue for what is commonly referred to as a welfare state. Others call for a more radical redistribution of wealth that would seek to eliminate any socio-economic differences between various groups of people. Radical redistribution of wealth aims for an egalitarian society where belonging to a group defined by either class, ethnicity/nationality, gender, race, or sexual orientation ceases to create any sort of disparity.

Property redistribution can take various forms such as direct confiscation or taxation or regulations ordering owners to make their property available to others.

Examples of property redistribution

Public programs and policy measures involving redistribution of property include:
*Eminent domain
*Land reforms
*Inheritance taxes

ee also

* Income redistribution
* Distribution of wealth
* Nationalization
* Ownership
* Social inequality
* Tax

References