Which of these two statements sounds more 'left-wing' to you?

[Aldaris]

I know what you mean, but the theory is that a market-based class society is highly unequal, and the State may intervene to reduce the inequality, be it through taxation, welfare or wholesale collectivisation.

What I’ve meant by assuming left-wing context is exactly this, but the original statement in and on itself doesn’t imply that the redistribution would be meant to reduce inequality. There may be various agendas behind state interventions in economy and ownership issues. Take a look at European medieval societies for example. The power and wealth were generally highly centralized by our standards, yet it was used to maintain such status, not the opposite.

[Tooting Carmen]

What I’ve meant by assuming left-wing context is exactly this, but the original statement in and on itself doesn’t imply that the redistribution would be meant to reduce inequality. There may be various agendas behind state interventions in economy and ownership issues. Take a look at European medieval societies for example. The power and wealth were generally highly centralized by our standards, yet it was used to maintain such status, not the opposite.

What you say is largely true. Which begs the question: at which point did State intervention/ownership of the economy become a hallmark of leftist and egalitarian modes of thought? And why?