How Venezuela’s socialist dream collapsed into a nightmare

"Egalitarianism as a political objective is always inherently combined with collectivism. There is no way--no possible way--to level a society, but by collective action."

You are clearly referencing the late 18th century French, socialist re-branding of egalitarianism to mean material equality rather than the classical definition of egalitarianism as a spiritual equality. This is the definition which was in effect at the time of the nation's founding and is referenced in its founding documents. The Declaration of Independence clearly references spiritual equality, what is now unfortunately referred to as "Christian egalitarianism" post-socialist co-opting.
Please observe:

"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..."

Key phrases: created equal. endowed by their Creator.

This is spiritual equality, not a material equality. The socialists hijacked the concepts of equality and egalitarianism and use them to this day to pervert their meaning to their use while relegating the true meaning to "Christian egalitarianism". The Declaration of independence is quite clear that peoples' equality is derived from God, not man. From this truth all personal freedoms are derived which are independent of material (worldly) conditions and most importantly, the rule of man. By removing the spiritual component from Egalitarianism and equality the socialists can achieve what they desire: control of materialism and control of man.

In the reply to which you are replying, I offered a link to my discussion of the Declaration, which specifically addresses your contention as to Jefferson's use of the clause. It is not egalitarian, it is purely a recognition of the background concepts behind the compact theory of Government--a refutation of the "divine right" of any class of Governors--in the American incidence, the King or the British Parliament--to rule.

There is no divine right to rule anyone. The legitimacy of the right to rule depends upon an act of acceptance of that rule by the subjects-or in a Republic, the people.

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