Quality and Equality - Freedom and Fairness

In the context of politics, equality and quality are both noble values, but they come at each other’s expense – as equality increases, quality decreases, and vice versa.

Take health care, for example. Here in the U. S., we offer a very high quality of health care, if you have insurance or can otherwise afford it. That’s why the rich and powerful from all over the world, including the countries that have socialized medicine, often come here for their critical health care needs. But, because high quality health care is expensive, those with good insurance or lots of money get better heath care than the less fortunate. So, we have a high quality but little equality of health care. In countries with socialized medicine, on the other hand, health care is free and everyone is treated equally, but access to certain specialists, drugs, and expensive tests is limited and typically involves an extended wait. The result is that such countries have great equality but a lesser quality of health care.

The same relationships exist for income, housing, standard of living, education, and just about any other aspect of life. If you value quality above equality, then you prefer a system wherein the harder you work, the greater will be your income and standard of living, etc. You favor capitalism and a weak government. If you believe equality to be more valuable than quality, you prefer a system that distributes wealth and living standards equally. You prefer socialism and a strong government.

Really, the issue boils down to fairness vs. freedom. Progressives argue for fairness and equality. “It’s not fair that the poor don’t receive the same health care/education/income/lifestyle/(fill in the blank) as the rich. Everyone should receive the same. No one has the right to judge anyone else.” Conservatives argue for freedom – not equality, but equality of opportunity. “Everyone should have the right to achieve in accordance with their abilities, drive, and determination. You should never judge anyone based on their race, ethnicity, gender, or other intrinsic characteristic, but you can and should judge everyone’s character, competence, skill, and performance.”

It’s pretty easy to see where I fall on this continuum. I strongly believe that freedom is our greatest, most precious, and most fragile, gift. I acknowledge that freedom is not fair. In a free society, some end up with better educations, nicer cars, larger homes, higher incomes, better health care, and more comfortable lifestyles. Some achieve more, some less, and some end up with very little. America was founded and has flourished in a wealth of freedom that offers boundless opportunity and a quality of life that is the envy of the world. There is little equality, but great equality of opportunity – everyone can succeed in accordance with their abilities and willingness to work hard. I should note that some folks choose to forgo some of the rewards of hard work for a life of public service – they accept a more modest lifestyle and dedicate themselves to the betterment of all. I include members of the military, public safety personnel, clerics, some educators, and some medical personnel, as well as most charitable workers, in this category. We all owe an immeasurable debt to such people, and we must always honor and defend their commitment.

As a 21st century conservative, I believe that each of us has a bounden duty to provide, care for, and protect ourselves and our families. I believe that government’s only job is to provide those few services and controls that civilization demands and that cannot be provided by individuals themselves. I do not seek to be taken care of by anyone, especially the government, unless I become unable to care for myself. Conversely, I am more than willing to contribute to or provide for those who are unable to care for themselves, noting that this pledge in no way extends to those who are unwilling to care for themselves. I fully accept that, in this exciting and unpredictable journey of life in a free land, there will be a wide range of personal achievement and accomplishment. I do not begrudge those who achieve more, and I do not feel superior to those who are less accomplished. I ask only that I be given the opportunity to reach my own potential.

These days, there seems to be an impetus, led by progressive politicians, media, press, and academia, to diminish the value of freedom in favor of fairness. If they succeed, we will have forsaken our greatest gift. I cherish that gift beyond measure. If you seek to diminish the freedom personified by America, do so at your own peril.