Where do we draw the line between freedom and equality?

Question

You can answer this as specifically or a generally as you like. Here are my additional concerns:

Somewhere between completely uncivilized animals and fascism lies the answer... how can we advocate complete freedom of individuals while still helping people and giving everyone a fair shot? Are they incompatible? Especially in terms of taxes, what do you think? Is it fair to force people to pay taxes on something they don't agree with? And on the same coin, how can we advance as a society if everyone kept completely to themselves, especially in terms of funding? Will we ever know?

Answer 1

Nowhere ! i believe freedom and equality, lies within each other. In other words, you get freedom to achieve equality.

Answer 2

Where is the line between Freedom and Equality?

Those two have nothing to do with each other.

---------
is it fair to force people to pay taxes on something they don't agree with?

Taxes are paid for the benefit of society, it is up to those that lead that society how they are to be spent, we reach that conclusion based on the will of the majority and the leaders hopefully represent the majority . It is called democracy.

And on the same coin, how can we advance as a society if everyone kept completely to themselves, especially in terms of funding?

If people didn't pay taxes society as we know it would cease to exist. However I do believe that a small percentage of the taxes we pay should be discretionary, in other words the person should be able to 'assign' ten per cent of the taxes he pays to a specific program i/e NASA, Stem Cell research, New black box projects etc.

Will we ever know?

NO. It would mean destroying the established system and that is not going to happen.

[edited to add]

The concept of freedom is what a person is free to do or not at will. Generally speaking my freedoms (read rights) end where yours begin.

Equality is based on a very strict measure, 'Equality under the Law'. Meaning: for the same deed/infraction two people however disparate their social status may be will be treated (read punished/rewarded) in the same manner.

Answer 3

some people, like the michigan militia, don't believe in paying taxes, but they believe in using roads, etc...so just because someone doesn't agree, doesn't mean they necessarily know what they are saying. No to the taxes decisions...we are able to elect leaders to spend and raise money the way they see fit. You can never please all of the people all of the time. Helping people is a whole different situation. SOme believe that programs serve to keep people down, to keep them from making their own decisions., This is evidenced by the number of people born into welfare, and who stay on welfare. That is all they ever knew. However, leveling the playing field by working to remove obstacles in hiring and education, and enforcing equal pay for equal work, etc...allows those of us who aren't white males to compete fairly. No special rights, just equal rights. Helping those who help themselves. So you don't have to draw a line between the two...you just have to recognize what's important for making sure everyone has a fair shot, and re evaluate programs that may be outdtaed, or prove to have little positive effect on helping people get their fair shot. And we could never advance as a society if we didn't work together. We can accomplish more by being united and tolerant of others. Everyone has a right ot life liberty and the pursuit of hapiness...as long as it doesn't infringe on someone else's right to the same.

Answer 4

"Is it fair to force people to pay taxes on something they don't agree with?"

Probably not, but then I could just say "I don't agree with any of these taxes" and then what, I don't pay them? Sign me up!

Freedom and equality seem to be on opposite ends of the spectrum. A completely equal society would not be free, and a completely free society would not be equal, except for the fact that they enjoy equal freedoms.

Answer 5

we ought to continuously be considered both contained in the eyes of the regulation. notwithstanding, for freedom to be significant, there should be unequal effects. Capitalism will be mistaken via incontrovertible actuality that rewards are dispensed unequallly. notwithstanding, communism is a a lot worse life, via equivalent distribution of misery.