SI
SI
discoversearch

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor.  We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community.  If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.
Politics : View from the Center and Left
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  
To: Lane3 who wrote (93492)11/3/2008 9:45:13 PM
From: Cogito  Read Replies (1) of 541555
 
>>Fairness is generally considered to be a "good" emotion. It has excellent PR. Some people like it so much that they want to build political systems around it, like socialism. Or they use it to manipulate the public, like race or class baiting. That is what I dispute. I don't think it's helpful as a political metric. It's fine in small groups, maybe even positive, and it's useful for designing some of the simple protocols of civilization like queuing up to vote. But I think it is a problem causer, not a problem solver, in politics. I think we should discourage it, not give it favorable treatment.<<

Karen -

I can understand, to some extent, your objections to the use of nebulous concepts of fairness with respect to things like tax policy.

But I can think of examples of where applying the basic principle of fairness seems to be a good idea. Take the idea of equal pay for equal work. On what basis can one argue against paying women less than men for doing the same job? If that's not a question of fairness, what is?

Going back to the distribution of property when a couple separates, I'm still not quite sure why you object to the word "fair." However one applies logic to the situation, it would seem that the goal would have to be one in which neither party is disadvantaged by the outcome. And isn't "fairness" just a shorter way of identifying that goal?

- Allen
Report TOU ViolationShare This Post
 Public ReplyPrvt ReplyMark as Last ReadFilePrevious 10Next 10PreviousNext  

HomeMailHotSubjectMarksPeopleMarksKeepersSettings
Terms Of UseContact UsCopyright/IP PolicyPrivacy PolicyAbout UsFAQAdvertise on SI
© 2025 Knight Sac Media.  Data provided by Twelve Data, Alpha Vantage, and CityFALCON News