Dumb Metaphor Friday: “Growing the pie”
The conservative criticism of redistribution is a claim that conservatives would rather expand the (economic) pie than ensure that it is divided evenly among everybody. The theory is that everybody then even the guy destined to have a smaller piece comes out ahead, even if the pieces aren’t the same size. This argument is apparently very persuasive to people who think pies expand (perhaps when they’re growing on pie trees)? Those of us who have actually baked pies know that they stay the same size—and all you can do is cut them equally.
The conservatives would be much better off chosing something that actually expands. Say, apples. They want to grow more apples—which can then be baked into delicious apple pie. Except … if you want a successful orchard, you’ll ensure that your apple trees all have sufficient access to light and water. Taking decent care of your trees is the best way to get more apples. If you plant 99% of your trees in a corner of your orchard and give the remaining trees all the remaining space, you’re making terrible use of your resources. If you treat your trees equitably, you will get a better yield. Bigger pies.
Gross inequality is bad for the economy. Unemployment means wasted labor. Lack of opportunity means wasted potential. This metaphor only makes sense if we assume that pies behave in ways that pies doesn’t actually behave. The argument only makes sense if we pretend the economy behaves in similarly imaginary ways.
