I agree absolutely with Bruce and with Thomas the Rhymer on this one. And along with those inalienable rights (to food, clothing, shelter, education, and good medical care) comes an inalienable responsibility...to contribute usefully to that society in whatever way you are well suited to and to do your part in sustaining it. In this way you return something for the good things that you are receiving.

That is exactly how a good ashram or cooperative community works, and I've stayed at a couple. I believe it's pretty much how a kibbutz works too, if I'm not mistaken.

The Three Musketeers had a motto for it: "all for one and one for all" That is true equality. That is true justice. That is real democracy. That is an intelligent and responsible society...rather than a corrupt, decadent struggle for conspicous consumption, fame, and luxury over the bodies of the disadvantaged and less ruthless...which is what our mainstream society is.

Decadent societies encourage and foster stupidity in the general public, because an enlightened public would not support decadence and they would not predictably fall into line and buy product from the guys at the top.