Fair: The One word that defines our generation, culture and world

Fairness. It drives the world (all but Islam) in this age. It is the reason why American politics is so rancorous – why some accuse others of being mean, heartless, cruel, evil. What is fair? There are three views (four with Islam) and they are as follows.

One side cares. The concern is for the poor, hungry, homeless, and in every way what history is calling the disadvantaged. To be sure, fairness is most often spoken of in the negative: that to apply ordinary justice to such people would not be fair. The disadvantaged need extra help, special breaks, a hand up. They need compassion, not punishment. They need access to education and real opportunities which have otherwise been denied them.

When those who think this way look at those who appear advantaged (successful), they feel it is only right (justice) that the advantaged people share. Share, like we are taught when we are infants. These caring believers see the sin inherent in the human species, but only one side.

It is greed and selfishness that oppresses others. Therefore, it is the right of the collective (government) to force the advantaged to share – to give up their advantages in order to create a more level playing field – in order to make things “equal.” And the focus is certainly on the results.

The other side… cares. But the concern here is for the people who struggle to make a good life, who try, who fight the good fight and seek to do what is right for themselves, their families and their neighbors (if not their nation). These good people make the effort in life and it is only fair that they should be rewarded and be able to enjoy the fruits of their labor. In recent years, this view of fairness is also beginning to be expressed in the negative. For the collective (government) to take that fruit and give it to others through excessive taxes and punitive rules and regulations is not fair.

When those who think this way look at those who appear disadvantaged, they point to people in similar circumstances who have become successful, or they point at themselves and say no one helped me. I worked hard and made something of myself. These people invest their lives in a job or a business and believe it is totally fair that they receive a fair return on their investment and the government should not “steal” it. These caring believers also see the sin inherent in the human species, but only one side.

It is well documented that these people are the first in line and give the most to those who are truly disabled, sick or in need; but when they look at the so-called disadvantaged, they also see the lazy people who have learned how to game the system and take advantage of the taxpayer. Helping an unwed mother is one thing, but by the third, fourth or fifth generation, it is no longer a mistake, it is a lifestyle with no end in sight.

For these hard working people, the government is not the answer, it is the problem – making a hard life all but impossible. In America (it is believed), regardless of race, creed, color, religion, gender, socio-economic level or any other qualifier, there is opportunity. One can still strive for the “American Dream.” The playing field here is essentially level at the start. It already is “equal,” but the focus here is on the starting gate, and what a person does with their life is left up to them.

On the third hand… I won’t comment significantly on Islam. That is a world unto itself. Let me just say it has historically been the case where a few clerics, scholars and strongmen (never strongwomen) have had the advantages of this world and most of the people have not. As such, caring or fairness has not much entered into the equation. It is “The Will of Allah,” and any social, political or economic discourse is subservient to the religion.

Finally, there is the older Judeo-Christian view of fairness, and while it will have to wait until the next post, let me just say it recognizes the sin inherent in the human species, both sides.


-Michael
The Fiction Side: The Storyteller http://mgkizzia.wordpress.com/
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