Equality
For the very best discussion on one of the basic tenets our country was founded on, equality, I strongly suggest you read Chapter 5 of Milton Friedman’s Free To Choose. This is the most readable book on economics I’ve ever found. It explains things in a straightforward manner that makes good common sense… a rarity considering the author is a Nobel Prize winner.
The Declaration of Independence states clearly:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.
While the words “all men are created equal” seem rather simple, they have been the focus of considerable discussion since first written. Friedman notes that true equality cannot be achieved, and therefore the words cannot be taken literally, but views the interpretation of this phrase as having evolved from its original intent to its current incarnation:
- EQUALITY BEFORE GOD - obviously, not all people are alike… everyone has different capabilities and characteristics: physical, intellectual, emotional. Here on Earth we are, in fact, NOT equal… but, before God, as individuals, we ARE. Our Founding Fathers believed government should not impose its will upon individuals but, rather, provide us liberty. In a time where Kings ruled over Subjects, the United States began with the idea that every person was to be his own ruler.
The obvious contradiction was the existence of slavery at the time. The people were divided on this issue. While many wanted to abolish it, many did not. The Founders recognized that there would be no unity on this issue and, had the point been pressed, our country would not have achieved independence. Many more years passed before support of “freedom for all” reached the point where its reality was possible… and even then, it took a Civil War.
- EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY - once “all men” were equal not only in the eyes of God but also under the law, then the concept changed. Again, a literal interpretation is not possible: try as we might, the opportunity of a blind person simply cannot be made equal to that of a sighted person… and there are a multitude of other examples. Instead, it means government should not impose restrictions that would limit people from pursuing any position they seek (and, obviously, have the talents to achieve). The determinant should only be ability… not color, religion, sex nor any other irrelevant characteristic. The government’s role, again, provides an environment based on liberty.
- EQUALITY OF OUTCOME - over the past few decades, a different interpretation has been gaining momentum… and it is troublesome. While the concepts of equality before God and equality of opportunity both promote individual liberty, equality of outcome REDUCES liberty. Once again, this idea cannot be interpreted literally, so it becomes based on a vague notion of “fairness”… which begs the question: who determines what is fair? The trend is toward bigger government confiscating wealth from some and distributing it to others, which is totally contrary to the “American” way of life.
We should note here that this entire philosophy is rooted in Karl Marx’s “To each according to his needs, from each according to his ability”… with a modern take on it: “Fair shares for all”.
It is one thing for government to provide a “level playing field” (equal opportunity) but an entirely different matter for it to take from one and give to another (equal outcome). You can nurture the same ground that two seedlings are planted in and they will both benefit, yet one may still grow taller than another. You cannot chop a tree in half and stack it on top of another tree and expect them both to survive… nor would you call them equal.
Those who see the virtues of Equality of Opportunity and the fallacies of Equality of Outcome need to speak up. Education is the only way for people to understand the advantages of the former and the ultimate failure of the latter. Sadly, our education system has become corrupted and will not teach this lesson, so it is up to the voice of individuals to convey this important warning to others.
