Equal Rights Or Equal Things?

With an economy that continues to stagger, the federal government is attempting to fix the problem and help the poor.  It’s sticking its hand into the business of the people like it has a right to do so. While having a desire to help is important, it is not the job of the federal government to provide for the people.

As Friedrich Hayek said,

“There is all the difference in the world between treating people equally and attempting to make them equal. While the first is a condition of a free society, the second means…a new form of servitude.”

The role of the government is not to provide the people with equal things, but to protect the equal rights of all. Because the Founding Fathers believed that the distribution of wealth could corrupt the country and the poor themselves, the Constitution does not allow the government to do so. It is not wrong to desire fairness, but when the federal government distributes money and possessions to create such fairness, the result is corruption. In giving the government the power to take away from those who have in order to give to those who do not, we allow the government to regulate every penny that we own — everything becomes property of the federal government.

Furthermore, the word “fair” is widely misinterpreted when talking about the redistribution of wealth. To be fair is to be free from dishonesty and injustice. Is it truly fair to take away the hard earned money of someone else? Is it truly fair to give someone something that someone else has rightfully earned? If we truly want fairness in this country, we would fight against the distribution of equal things.

In protecting the equal rights of all people, equal opportunities for all naturally result. When the equal rights of all are protected, everyone is given an equal chance at success. These equal opportunities do not end in equal results, yet the government is attempting to make this happen. Helping the poor is a responsibility that falls into the hands of the people, the families, the churches, and the communities. We should take pride in helping our fellow Americans who are in need. We should make it a priority to help the poor in our communities. We should actively seek out opportunities to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate around us. We should be the ones helping the poor, while the federal government should be protecting our unalienable rights. 

Related posts:

1. Terrorism and Constitutional Rights
2. Leading by Example

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