Equality is Evil: Change My Mind

Ever since I can remember, I've had one thing crammed into my head from teachers and other people in authority: Equality is just, and it should always be the goal for which our culture strives. Until recently, I've taken "equality" to mean "equal opportunity". However, I no longer think that that is the definition people are using for the term. Now when the word "equality" is thrown around, it tends to be a stand-in for "punish those who succeed, and reward those who don't". In other words, opportunity is no longer the area where we must be equal, but we must be equal in outcome.

Our Declaration of Independence says that all men are created equal. That means that we all start out equal. If they meant that we were to enforce equality, they would have left out the word "created".

Equality of opportunity is something that can never truly be achieved, but should always be the goal. To wish to enforce quality of outcome, however, is truly evil. Whereas the former allows for a level playing field on which to work hard and compete for success; and the clearing of obstacles, granting the freedom to choose one's own path to success; the later is fueled by a person looking at someone who is more successful than them with a greedy and envious heart, and trying to get the government to confiscate their possessions, to be doled out to the "needy". It just so happens that the first person considers themselves to be the one who is "needy".

Now, I know that there are many who read this and think "Man, this guy really hates the poor, and doesn't want them to receive any kind of help!" But that's not the case at all. I do think that the poor should be helped when they need to be. Charities exist, and are far more efficient in helping than the government. In that way, you could say I'm the exact opposite of someone like Ebenezer Scrooge, who wouldn't give to charity because his taxes funded the prisons and union work houses.

No, dear reader, I draw the line at the definition of "helping" being when the government takes from producers at gunpoint. That may sound hyperbolic at first, but in the end, all government mandates are enforced with a gun. Don't pay your taxes for a while, and wait and see how long it takes for people with guns show up at your door.

You are not entitled to a cut of what I earn. I am not entitled to a cut of what you earn. To think otherwise is evil.

Freedom and equality cannot coexist. In the end, we have to choose one over the other. The battle line must be drawn between them. I, for one, can be found firmly on the side of freedom.