What if all Americans were truly born with the same and equal opportunities?

Question

If all Americans were truly born with the same and equal opportunities (those with a disability not included), would it be fair to eliminate the welfare system? If so, how could this guarantee of equal opportunity be implemented?

I suppose I need to specify these opportunities to socio-economic status, standard of living, and education.

Answer 1

Welfare is not about "fairness" it is about need. The US Government back in the 30's set up “public assistance” and made major revisions in the 60’s and 90’s. The program was designed to help folks out that were in “need”. Even without prejudice factories close, breadwinners die and bad luck is always wandering around looking for someone with poor planning to knock their feet out from under them. So we will always have people in need. If we had equal opportunity we would have fewer people in need, but still some.

How to guarantee equal opportunity? Well, I think our media has done a good job of promoting a color blind, gender blind, and creed blind society. I was 20 before I realized that anyone of my generation was racially prejudiced. Prejudice was for “old folks”. That’s what the TV said. But the media promotes a lot of the opposite too, controversy sells so they sell the story about horrible prejudice and then they sell the story about the horrible acts of the poor or the rich. At this rate in 172 years before the media will eliminate prejudice.

If want to eliminate inequity faster we need to promote more than just a vision of equality but almost a cult of valuing each human life. Religions (alas only some) do that. Every religion makes the individual less proud of themselves and several great religions promote being a servant to others. To the extent we instill the concept of "servant hood" we cut off prejudice and inequity at the root. Until we cherish the other person I think we will not get to an effective equality. I mean even if I think everyone equal to me but would still stab you in the back to get financially ahead we are no better off than if I thought you less than me. If I think I owe a debt of service to you I may work like the dickens to get ahead, but never on your back and if I make it I would be extending a hand down to you to pull you up. So that is one approach that will work, but what do I know, I am just a servant.

Answer 2

I wouldn't call it an American idea, but America was the first country to expand that idea. Also, the word "opportunity" is wrong. All people are not born with equal "opportunity". Everyone is born in a different environment and neighborhood; not everyone can have the same opportunities due to some circumstances. Also, people only inherit physical characteristics from their parents. When people are raised by their parents, of course, they will pick up some characteristics like personality. As for animals, I consider all life to be precious, but as you know this going to lead to a vegetarian / non-vegetarian arguement. This is why some religions thank/worship what they are about to eat. Even vegans kill insects and bugs sometimes, so you cannot always protect all life, b/c it's not ideal, but you thank for what you have and try to preserve as much animal life as you can.

Answer 3

True equal opportunity would only last for a very short time because the "cream" would quickly rise to the top.
That is quite different to the present system where a lot of the, so called "cream" is carried to the top on a raft of money.
The best way to achieve something like the equality you are after is to provide a free eduction, as good as money can buy, to all, with the provision that you continue in that system on the basis of performance. Why waste money on people who aren't trying.

Answer 4

No. that would not be fair.

The reason is because of what the welfare system was designed for... not everyone will have a happy go lucky life etc.. with no downfalls, no accidents, no mistakes, etc...

We should not punish the weak or the ones that maybe make poor choices.

Welfare is limited to between 2 to 5 years in your entire life. It was designed to help ppl that have a downfall. IE< say a woman has 2 under age 3 children and her husband dies with no insurance. You could argue that he should have had insurance. So what do you do as a society? Do you make her live under a bridge and put her children in foster care? NO that is what welfare is for. It is a temporary solution to help her recover.

Answer 5

First of all everybody would have to be born with equal good looks since good looking people in general have an advantage over unattractive ones and have more opportunities very often.

Answer 6

In order for all Americans to be truly born with the same and equal opportunities, we would all have to be identical in every way. One must be careful when wishing for equality; if all human beings were equal it would mean the end of the human race.

Answer 7

We are born with the same opportunity. Sometimes the poor have even more opportunity in the form of scholarships and grants.

Answer 8

The welfare system cannot be abolished because citizens are always not financially capable to support themselves at all times due to natural disasters, bankruptcies and other unexpected events.

Answer 9

We are all born with equal opportunities, but it is up to you to take advantage of them. Ahhhh there's the rub.

Answer 10

That question is not even logical to consider because we live in an imperfect world.

http://www.conservativeworld.us/