The Left's 'Inequality' Obsession

The general view among liberals is that economic inequality is socially undesirable because it makes people miserable; they propose to solve the problem through redistributive policies such as higher income taxes. As a scholar working in the field of public policy, I have long witnessed egalitarian hand-wringing about the alleged connection between inequality and unhappiness. What first made me doubt this prevailing view was that when I questioned actual human beings about it, few expressed any shock and outrage at the enormous incomes of software moguls and CEOs. They tended rather to hope that their kids might become the next Bill Gates.

And in fact, the evidence reveals that it is not economic inequality that frustrates Americans. Rather, it is a perceived lack of opportunity. To focus our policies on inequality, instead of opportunity, is to make a serious error -- one that will worsen the very problem we seek to solve and make us generally unhappier.

The egalitarian argument against inequality starts with the claim that income is all relative: Above a basic subsistence level, they say, we care more about our financial position relative to others than about our absolute income. Experimental studies are often cited that appear to bear this idea out.

“Liberalism is communism by the spoonful.” PJ O’Rouke

Jimmy Carter was right about one thing - life isn’t fair.

But America is positively lumpy with opportunity. It’s all around us.

However, it seems that many people are looking past it to another horizon; and just over that horizon lingers the notion that if all aspects of life in the US are not fair, life is nothing but a vale of tears.

And that is one big bunch of baloney.

The Dums ARE the party of inequality. From Slavery to Illegals, they never want these people to have a better life. Unless they want to tell the American people, that they believe it is inhuman to force illegals to “sneek” into the country, forget the water stations, provide bus transportation. I dare them. They claim that it is inhuman to send them back after they have risked their lives getting here. LISTEN TO WHAT THEY ARE REALLY SAYING

Just like all good Fascist commie Socialist Dum, they believe the masser knows better what’s good for you.

And this is exactly why liberals act as they do: they are utterly obsessed with how they compare to others, how much they are "liked" by others, etc. Their narcissism drives their mental illness.

“And this is exactly why liberals act as they do: they are utterly obsessed with how they compare to others, how much they are “liked” by others, etc. Their narcissism drives their mental illness.”

I agree with this, and would add envy and hatred to the list of liberal motivations. The reason liberal politicians are such fans of big government is that it allows them the best chances to be ‘the most important people in the world’. Big government focuses attention and accolades on those in government, namely THEM. It doesn’t matter to them that socialism would suppress the ability and right of each and every individual to make their own unique mark on the world. Liberal politicians don’t care about that because it doesn’t embellish their own stature, and conversely can diminish their stature by allowing others a chance to differentiate themselves. They want a world in which there are the homogeneous followers, and the exhalted chosen ones that lead them. Guess who they think the exhalted chosen ones should be?

For many of the non-politician advocates of socialism and liberal policies the motivating factors are envy and hatred. They hate those who have done better than them because of their choices and hard work. They don’t envy or hate those who appear to be life’s ‘Lotto’ winners (e.g. Paris Hilton etc.), because no one is going to point to Paris Hilton and tell them that “you could have been just like her if you had made different choices and worked harder”. They don’t resent her. They resent those who did what they themselves could have done, but didn’t. Envy is very, very unattractive and very, very destructive.

To focus our policies on inequality, instead of opportunity, is to make a serious error -- one that will worsen the very problem we seek to solve and make us generally unhappier.

Precisely!

Everyone should read Thomas Sowell's excellent book, A Conflict of Visions. He addresses this subject at some length.

To a liberal, "fairness" and "justice" are measured by the equality of outcomes and rewards; to a conservative, "fairness" and "justice" are measured by equality of opportunities and consequences.

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