We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal.
But equal in what way? I am smarter than some, shorter than others; I can run faster than some, but others jump higher than me: in what way are we equal?
We are in no way equal in ability. However our value is not based on our abilities. Therefore we may be unequal in ability while remaining equal in worth.
This is an important distinction because many who talk about equality want men to be equal in ability. Equality in this sense is impossible and it undermines men’s liberty. Take the following example as an illustration.
I decide to challenge LeBron James (i.e. King James for the layman) to a game of one on one hoops. Every time I go to shoot, he blocks my shot. In order to have a ‘fair’ game, he must be told not to block my shots. As we continue he proceeds to steal the ball from me. This is not ‘fair’ as it gives him an undue advantage and makes the game unequal. We make another rule that says he cannot steal the ball. Still, he shoots better than me. We make a rule that he must give me some of his points so that our game may be ‘equal.’
In making our game ‘fair’ LeBron has lost the liberty to play basketball. The same is true in our society. Some in our society are able to make more money or have other advantages. In order to make them ‘equal’ with others, they must lose the liberty of developing their God given potential.
Furthermore there is an intimate connection between creating a more ‘fair’ society and creating a dictatorship. The Gracchi Brothers, Caesar, Robespierre, etc, all these men set out to help the less fortunate. But just like my hypothetical basketball game, more stringent measures were needed than originally supposed to bring ‘fairness’ to society. As society was hesitant to accept these measures, the reformers needed to claim more and more power for themselves to push these changes through.
This is not to say we should not help the poor. However, I do believe we should be hesitant of any leader who purports to help the poor for as many who have claimed to do this have done so for the sake of aggrandizing power for themselves.
But equal in what way? I am smarter than some, shorter than others; I can run faster than some, but others jump higher than me: in what way are we equal?
We are in no way equal in ability. However our value is not based on our abilities. Therefore we may be unequal in ability while remaining equal in worth.
This is an important distinction because many who talk about equality want men to be equal in ability. Equality in this sense is impossible and it undermines men’s liberty. Take the following example as an illustration.
I decide to challenge LeBron James (i.e. King James for the layman) to a game of one on one hoops. Every time I go to shoot, he blocks my shot. In order to have a ‘fair’ game, he must be told not to block my shots. As we continue he proceeds to steal the ball from me. This is not ‘fair’ as it gives him an undue advantage and makes the game unequal. We make another rule that says he cannot steal the ball. Still, he shoots better than me. We make a rule that he must give me some of his points so that our game may be ‘equal.’
In making our game ‘fair’ LeBron has lost the liberty to play basketball. The same is true in our society. Some in our society are able to make more money or have other advantages. In order to make them ‘equal’ with others, they must lose the liberty of developing their God given potential.
Furthermore there is an intimate connection between creating a more ‘fair’ society and creating a dictatorship. The Gracchi Brothers, Caesar, Robespierre, etc, all these men set out to help the less fortunate. But just like my hypothetical basketball game, more stringent measures were needed than originally supposed to bring ‘fairness’ to society. As society was hesitant to accept these measures, the reformers needed to claim more and more power for themselves to push these changes through.
This is not to say we should not help the poor. However, I do believe we should be hesitant of any leader who purports to help the poor for as many who have claimed to do this have done so for the sake of aggrandizing power for themselves.
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