Equality?

Equality is generally seen as desirable. The belief in striving for equality is expressed even by many conservatives in all countries - and "One Nation" conservatives like Benjamin Disraeli in Britain, or Bismarck in Germany with his "State Socialism" were perhaps the first "liberal reformers". So no-one can be trusted, it seems. This is why I think the labels "left" and "right" are meaningless - true, "left" is pretty much an indicator of strong Marxist influences, but many on the so-called "right" are actually just left-wingers who've been mugged, or authoritarians who will place social order above the rights of the individual. They may see markets as the best way to achieve the "greater good". However, their fundamental belief in the greater good and a more equal society is the same.

Often, the right-wing is more dangerous than the left, because what it grants in slightly more economic freedom it can more than make up for with it's authoritarian leanings.My problem with "equality" being an end in itself is that, if this is the case, then the temptation is not to treat all people equally. We see this in progressive taxation. A richer person has to pay a higher proportion of their salary (not just a higher amount because they earn more, which seems fair to me), they have to be legally punished, legally have their rights to their earnings decreased by the state, as they earn more. Positive discrimination is another example. Humanitarian wars of intervention motivated by bringing "progress" (not out of necessity) are another. Robbing one person to give to another, basically.

Sometimes, we even rob the poor to help the relatively rich, when we want to help keep the first world poor relatively equal to he first world rich, so we simply deny the third world poor the basic human right to even compete on level terms as human beings. The fact that left-wing people can preach equality in one breath and condone this in another astounds me.

So, if equality is an end in itself, then all people are not treated equally. the individual is trampled on. He is at the whim of another, who is granted the right, like a God, to judge his worth, and punish him if he likes. This God-like figure, known as the politician or bureaucrat, can then dole out your money to others in return for their support. You are a means to an end. So are they. And so he is he - his enlightened superiors are using him just like he uses us.

So what's the answer? The answer is to treat each individual as an end in himself. Treat each person the same. Treat each person with respect. Do not subvert them to a greater good. Let each person know that they have something to give, and they can exchange for something they want. And don't forget charity. Rich people give to charity, because people have consciences, and the vast majority of people need to believe they are good people. It's in most people's interests to give to charity, because they want to be happy, and to be happy they must believe they are good people. And even if they do not give to charity, when they spend their money, they create wealth, and when they save it, they keep a lid on inflation. This way, the market regulates itself. People regulate themselves. Each person is an individual, free to relate to others how they choose. The majority should choose to make mutually beneficial arrangements with others, as it's the most efficient way to serve one's own interest