I'll Take Free Over Equal
By: Carl | February 26, 2009, 12:49 pm
"Free people cannot be equal and equal people cannot be free." I didn't make that up, but it pretty well sums up the fundamental difference between those who believe in the power of individual freedom and responsibility to increase everyone's prosperity, and those who argue that a more equal distribution of wealth will result in the greatest happiness for all...well not all but maybe the most. Those people whose wealth is being redistributed probably won't be as happy.
We're all born with different talents, ambitions, interests, luck, and a host of other circumstances that go into our relative success or failure. Guaranteeing equal outcomes would require stifling or removing those things in some individuals and subsidizing them in others. If you want to be free, you have to be free to succeed or to fail. If you want to be equal, well, it's the "From each according to his ability, to each according to his need" scenario. And right now we're seeing both sides of the equation being worked. Success is being demonized and, as of this morning with President Obama's new budget unveiling, taxed at an ever increasing rate. Meanwhile trillions of dollars are being spent to reward those who have made bad decisions or were just unlucky. That applies equally, by the way, to the banker who ran his business into the ground and the bozo who thought he could borrow his way to prosperity.
The key to note here is that people who see themselves as victims of the system or circumstances or whatever cause (other than themselves) argue for more sharing in the distribution of wealth and are willing to trade their freedom to succeed for equality with their neighbor. It's a milquetoast but comfortable existence where everyone can feel good about themselves, but not too good; at least not any better than their neighbor or some of their stuff would have to be taken away until things even out again.
On the other hand, people who believe in themselves are willing to trade equality for the freedom to use their talents, ambitions, luck and all that to succeed. And when they fail they want the freedom to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and go at it again rather than becoming wards of the state...all the time knowing that when they do eventually succeed they'll be able to enjoy the fruits of that success rather than being punished for their efforts. And just as an aside, anyone who consumes the goods and services they provide will be better off for their efforts, too.
What's amazing to me is that some people reading this will go away saying "Yeah, that whole milquetoast comfy thing sounds pretty good." While others (most, I hope) will go away saying "Leave me alone and let me get at it!" Unfortunately, the milquetoasts are winning right now, and they know that the only way they can truly succeed is to take freedom and responsibility from the rest of us. It was happening in pieces before. Now it's happening in slabs. Soon it'll be too late to stop if those of us who just want to be left alone don't pay attention and stand up for what's right..
Comments 
Ronald
Posted on: 2009-03-21
Carl,
I'm suprised the nurses at Warm Springs give you so much internet time.
Carl
Posted on: 2009-03-21
Well done Ronald!
An ad hominem personal attack containing no counter-argument; just an attempt to belittle someone you disagree with by making fun of somebody else - the mentally ill in this case.
I couldn't have provided better examples of the Left's true tolerance for diversity and compassion than your posts. They're perfect.
You're performing a valuable public service. Keep it up!
Carl Graham
Posted on: 2009-05-26
For those who even noticed, we deleted comments by one Mike Taffer because of their content, or lack thereof. It's one thing to colorfully disagree like Ronald did above and on a couple of other posts. But we won't accept comments that are gratuiously offensive or that promote hate.
Taffer will probably come back under another name. That's what small minded cowards do. If you see inappropriate comments please let us know.
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