{"id":2795,"date":"2014-01-16T06:20:07","date_gmt":"2014-01-16T11:20:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=2795"},"modified":"2014-01-16T07:08:44","modified_gmt":"2014-01-16T12:08:44","slug":"equality","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/intramuralist.com\/?p=2795","title":{"rendered":"equality"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"images\"<\/a><\/p>\n

So perhaps my cranky self continues somewhat…\u00a0 I will attempt to reflect more \u2014 rant less.\u00a0 It\u2019s just my opinion \u2014 semi-humble<\/i> at that \u2014 but my sense is that while rants prompt more affirmation and amens, honest reflection spurs on dialogue and thus solution.\u00a0 I\u2019m afraid such may be why our elect often choose the ranting, as they are not always interested in dialogue; they too frequently seem only desiring to drive home the opinion they have privately and partisanly determined to be true.\u00a0 The Intramuralist doesn\u2019t have a lot of respect for that approach.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

One area where this (yes, semi-humble)<\/i> observer sees a ratcheting up in the rants is the issue of equality.\u00a0 Follow me here.\u00a0 We discussed this briefly in December, but with a need to divert the focus off of the current contempt for Obamacare, there is intent to find an issue that more soundly resonates with a plurality of voters.\u00a0 There is need for the affirmation and amens.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

And so we come to the word \u201cequality.\u201d\u00a0 Great word!\u00a0 As shared here previously, in recent decades, we\u2019ve been attracted to ERA, Employment Equality, Marriage Equality, and the Equality Act.\u00a0 The latest push (and the push which the Intramuralist believes to be ranted about even more in the months to come)<\/i> is \u201cincome equality\u201d… a fantastic idea!\u00a0 Income equality is the proposed more even distribution of wealth among households in our economy.\u00a0 Currently, the distribution is significantly uneven.\u00a0 Some people have far more or less than others.\u00a0 Isn\u2019t it right for things to be <\/i>equal<\/i><\/b>?\u00a0 Isn\u2019t it fair?<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Or wait… it\u2019s not that all things have to be exactly<\/i> equal, but certainly it should be closer. \u00a0 Surely the gap between the rich and the poor is too much, and the rich among us could give away a little more.\u00a0 It\u2019s an easy argument.\u00a0 Hence, it\u2019s a fantastic idea.\u00a0 Really.\u00a0 But casting all emotion aside, we must recognize that it\u2019s also a political ploy.\u00a0 Bear with me, friends, for it\u2019s a rant.<\/b><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

All men\/women were created equal.\u00a0 Truth.\u00a0 We were each divinely endowed with certain unalienable rights.\u00a0 Also true.\u00a0 But let\u2019s additionally acknowledge what is not true.\u00a0 It\u2019s not true that all men\/women are as hard-working.\u00a0 It\u2019s not true that all men\/women are as ambitious or entrepreneurial or are blessed with the same talents and gifts.\u00a0 Don\u2019t mistake me as being calloused.\u00a0 I am not.\u00a0 Without a doubt, many obtain their wealth via little effort of their own, as we are each born into certain circumstances.\u00a0 Different circumstances come with different challenges.\u00a0 And to those who have been given much, much is to be expected.\u00a0 So again, in my only semi-<\/i>humble opinion, a generous, philanthropic heart is at the top of the list of expectations for the wealthy.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So this fantastic idea… is it income equality?\u00a0 Not from this perspective.\u00a0 The fairness phrasing does not consider the entirety of the truths.\u00a0 The fantastic idea here is to associate income with equality… to associate marriage with equality… to associate employment with equality.\u00a0 You see my point.\u00a0 Friends, I say such as one not suggesting that any of the above is unwise.\u00a0 My point is simply that utilizing the words \u201cfairness\u201d and \u201cequality\u201d is an intentional tactic designed to persuade.\u00a0 Who among us would not desire to be equal or fair?<\/i><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\u201cEquality\u201d is a rhetorical term utilized to generate the affirmation and amens \u2014 not a word that prompts dialogue nor solution.\u00a0 It\u2019s actually a conversation killer, as there exists a strong inference within the word \u201cequality\u201d that those who do not support the issue do not believe all men\/women were created equal… that our opponent somehow, actually, foolishly embraces discrimination.\u00a0 Thus, audiences are emotionally moved, feeling now justified to join in the rant… as opposed to recognizing the inference is categorically unfounded.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

A person can oppose an equality issue without being prejudiced or discriminatory.\u00a0 On this supposed new push for \u201cincome equality,\u201d for example, there are many economists who will openly opine that it\u2019s impossible to \u201clegislate the poor into prosperity by legislating the wealthy out.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

I\u2019m done ranting, my friends.\u00a0 The logical reflection will continue, no less… hopefully for us all.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Respectfully,<\/p>\n

AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

So perhaps my cranky self continues somewhat…\u00a0 I will attempt to reflect more \u2014 rant less.\u00a0 It\u2019s just my opinion \u2014 semi-humble at that \u2014 but my sense is that while rants prompt more affirmation and amens, honest reflection spurs on dialogue and thus solution.\u00a0 I\u2019m afraid such may be why our elect often choose … <\/p>\n

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