SuperDave, I misjudged you earlier when I read your posts and we sparred a bit. I apologize if I offended you. Most of us think of socialism as a governmental system; whereas, you look on it more as a way of life - a philosophy. The kind of equality that you seek makes sense, but I can't ever imagine it happening on a wide scale. If we lived in a world of Type B personalities, perhaps; but Type A's would never let it happen - they have to control. As much as the lifestyle that you seek makes sense to you, and honestly in a way to me, there are too many who have to have control - and they will grab control - it happens in every group. For me - I'd prefer to see Type A's destroyed at birth, but if you think abortion creates a stir ... .
The other part of the problem pertains to ideas, creating the structure to produce, and the cost to make it run. Not many people would have what it takes to create a Microsoft, so it really is hard to say that Bill Gates is/was equal to everyone or even anyone else in the company. When you look at what the business produces, you really can't argue that a top level software engineer at MS is equal to custodial staff. Although you could make an argument that at some point lack of sanitary conditions might bring it all to a halt.
I don't doubt that we might agree that a person should be paid what he is worth and not what he can demand. I absolutely believe that in most companies "key" executives could go missing for days without severe disruption (except possibly for that required signature for a decision he/she didn't even make), but somewhere out on the assembly line there are a few people who do make a difference. For example, no power, no production; and that "key" executive doesn't have a clue how to get the power back on. One guy can have it running quickly and the other can make it happen but with significant cost and delay, but their pay and "importance" in the hierarchy don't reflect that.
I guess the best answer is that socialism cannot work if all men are not fairly equal; and regardless of what Lincoln wanted to believe, men are never created equal. The process may be the same but physical and intellectual attributes, temperament, and the conditions into which one is born with and into say differently - something like snowflakes and their originating process. A simple thing like being nearsighted can completely close off some career paths and change a destiny. It's life.
