When should equality trump liberty?

Question

Whenever there is a political issue, where one side believes that equality should be sacrificed for liberty, and the other side believes that liberty should be limited to promote equality, how do you decide which side to be on?

Or, when should a society say, "This freedom is too much; we must reign it in to preserve the equality of our citizens?"

*sigh* No, I do not want to deny anyone access to the Constitution. Please don't read anything into my question that I didn't actually write. Thanks.

Answer 1

I'd rather be free than equal. Which would you rather be: equal but incarcerated?

Answer 2

Liberty is very important- so is equality. But we are not all the same because of that there will never be complete equality. Look at it this way- The parents are always in charge of the home- the kids have to listen to the parents. Look how Corporations are set up- the same thing- employer is on a diffrent level as the employer. Does that make the parent more important than the children. Or the receptionist less important than the CEO? Just think about that. Hatred of people should be stamped out for sure. But for everyone to be exactly equal or the same- that just defies the laws of nature. Maybe I am just babbling.

Answer 3

The meaning of equality has been corrupted. It used to mean equal access, or equal opportunity.

Now it means equal playing field.

The trouble with that mentality is that it is communism.

If you go to school and work hard all semester. Sometimes you have to skip going out with friends. You have to stay up long hours studying. You miss meals. You agonize over tests. You never see your date as often as you would like, but at the end of the semester you get your A+ on the report card. It was worth it. You have earned it. Your hard work paid off.

Your Friend comes to you and shows you the C- on his report card. He is upset. He says it’s not fair. He did not stay home on weekends; he saw his date when ever he wanted. He EARNED his C-. His efforts were rewarded equal to his efforts.

You could still progress to the next class you need with a "B" should the teacher take points away from the "A" you earned to bring your friend up from the low grade he has so you both have "B"s?

You would be "equal"....Would it be fair?

Next semester would you work hard knowing it would happen again?

You friend thinking you will pull his grade up, how hard will he work?

What happens to the overall effort in the school? How educated is everyone at the end? How motivated? How happy?

That is what happens when you value "equality" in the twisted form people worship right now. This is actually communism. Need I remind people that communism killed more people than Fascism? Millions more.

No One in main society would say "personally I'm a National Socialist, you know a N.A.Z.I." But people say they are "Communist" without batting an eye. Without understanding what it did to so much of the world.

Once upon a time the cry was: Viva La Liberte'

Answer 4

Nice try, but it doesn't wash!! You really mean you want some people, like blacks, to not have access to the Constitution!

You haven't been truly free in a long time!!

"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 Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. —"

Read it, it might help!!

Answer 5

Crystal said it best. I want to add that "capitalism is the unequal distribution of wealth and communism is the equal distribution of poverty.

A lot of people complain about inequality in schools in America. I have this to say about that. It doesn't cost any more to live in an Apartment in harrison twp. (outer suburb with good schools) than it does to live in one in the inner city of Detroit. So if the schools are that bad, I say move. Many people are. It is up to the parent to insure equality. The biggest inequality we have in America is that we can't pick our parents.

Answer 6

Both liberty & equality are illusions. You chose whatever best meets the needs of the people.