Originally posted by Lincoln
The question is: Are some groups more equal than others? How does one get to be more equal?
The question is: Are some groups more equal than others? How does one get to be more equal?
Virtually any rule of equal distribution of goods, rights, or obligations will entail concomitant inequalities.
For example, specifying that every person should have the equal right to a workplace in which they can function despite disabilities equalizes that while entailing an inequality in the distribution of resources to achieve it (disabled people will require more resources to attain a state of equality).
Of course right wing scoundrels will immediately point out that such a rule leads to inequality, which is a pathetically silly argument since what is at stake is what things should have priority for equalization over others.
I suppose it's as much the fault of activists who campaign for "equality" without specifying what particular equality they favour. In fact it is a logical feature of every rule that it manifests equality in the sense that it is applied the same to everyone.
A rule that says "all Jews to concentration camps" if applied consistently to everyone, is applied equally, but has different consequences for different people; just like a rule that doles out wheelchairs for those who need them.
Equality just isn't a useful notion in most cases.
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