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Are the goals of equality and wealth compatible? This is a question that has gotten me puzzled.
Let me expand on this by first defining equality. Put simply, equality means that everyone, regardless of their background, gender and/or sexuality, should have the same opportunity to make wealth. I could expand on this by saying equality also applies to having the same freedoms, rights, etc. but I am simplifying this using wealth, as this could be seen as the end result of having all the other parts of equality.
Regardless of where I come from, my gender or my beliefs, I should have the equal opportunity to earn wealth as anyone else. So the goal of equality could be summarised as giving everyone equal opportunity to make wealth.
But what is the goal of wealth? The more wealth you have the more privileges, opportunities and/or benefits you have. People with more wealth have more privileges, opportunities and benefits than people with less wealth. In fact a key motivator for wanting wealth is to have more than others. Have the better house, the better car, the better stuff, the better education for your kids, etc.
Often success and wealth are seen in society as correlated and, thus, having more wealth is also seen as being more successful. So the goal of wealth could be summarised as having more then others.
This brings me to the dilemma of equality and wealth. The goal of equality is to give everyone equal opportunity to have wealth but the goal of wealth is to make everyone un-equal with everyone else. Let’s have equal opportunity to be un-equal with everyone else!
I cannot help but wonder how these two things are then compatible? Should the goal of wealth be for everyone to have equal wealth in order for wealth and equality to be compatible?
