Liberalism is based on the conviction that the difference in life- chances is unfair. This is a mistake, since luck cannot be either fair or unfair, it just is, but also because the political side of liberalism is incompatible with the aspiration to equalize life- chances, which depends on more than money. We cannot create perfect income equality, without establishing a totalitarian state and killing economic incentive. We cannot guarantee good parents to everyone, nor will we take children away from any but the most egregious parents. We cannot make everyone equally smart, talented, or pretty, and even were genetic engineering to make it possible, it may be a very bad idea. Not everyone will be popular or even well- known, not everyone will be prudent or hard- working, and not everyone will be lucky their whole life long.
What we can do is to remove certain egregious barriers to advancement, like race, so that people may contribute their talents to society, and expect to be rewarded. We can try to create an infra-structure of schools, libraries, museums and parks that make it likelier that those without means will develop mentally and physically. And we can guarantee a safety net for those who fall into especially hard times, to help them get back on their feet. |
