On equality vs equity.

Equality means applying the same set of rules to everyone. Everyone has an equal starting point. Equity means applying different rules to different people so people who don’t work as hard, or have bad luck, get the same outcome. Equity means people don’t have to work as hard to be successful, because the government forces the issue. Equity also means punishing (taxing) the people who do work hard, and give free money to those who didn’t earn it.

Some people who grew up in the 1990s and 2000s commented on getting a trophy when they didn’t earn it. They felt awful, like the trophy was a complete fake, and the teachers were outright lying to them. It made the situation worse than before, and the value of a trophy dropped quite a bit. When everyone gets a trophy or award the award becomes meaningless over time.

But equity also reduces competition and causes society as a whole to stagnate or degenerate. I think we are seeing that right now.

Equity also creates entitlement, where people assume they should get an award, or keep their job, just because their highest goal is mediocrity. Equity stifles creativity and greatness and competition, causing businesses to lose their competitive edge and more entitled employees fill their ranks.

Equity is how you destroy a country from the inside. You get people to have an emotional reaction to something, and support the issue, and they don’t really understand what they are supporting. The long-term thinking and analysis just isn’t there for these people.

Thomas Sowell’s talk from 199 “Equity: The thief of human potential” has some good comments on this.