by Ken Vincent, Featured Contributor
THERE IS A FACTION today that truly believes that equality can and must be achieved. Of course that theory has been around for a long time and has been pushed under numerous labels. Fascism, socialism, communism. and a bunch of other lesser known isms. It is interesting though that all those “isms” are based on a faction of the citizenry having power and control to manage and administer so there is no equality anyway. Under all of those systems equality is limited to the masses and the hierarchy is exempt. Much of Europe and the US are in a renewed drive to create equality.
I and many others feel that is a fools errand and can never be achieved, no matter how ideal it would seem on the surface.
We are not born with equal talents, or even physical attributes. So with an inconsistent starting point we then go into an uneven playing field and wonder why we can’t all be equal.
Hitler tried it by attempting to create a uniform race. Others have tried to achieve it by taking away from those successful and giving it to those less successful. None of it has worked.
I say that the only equality comes when we accept that we are not all equal, but each has specific talents and opportunities. Everyone should have equal rights to develop and capitalize on those talents and opportunities. However, the truth of it is that not everyone will do so. But, taking from one group and giving to another has never worked and never will. Why do we keep trying to do the impossible?
With everyone having equal rights then it is up to the individual to make the most of it. Keeping in mind that each person is responsible for his/her own decisions. If a person opts to drop out of school then there is a price to be paid. Society should not be penalized for that person’s bad choice. If one has the talents and a worthy idea but chooses to not start their own business then they miss the opportunity. The examples are endless of course.
It is interesting that people continue to elect those that promise government will equalize society. We elect those that promise the impossible and wonder why it doesn’t get better.