In the book, Lessons of History by Will and Ariel Durant, there is an essay titled Freedom vs. Equality. In it, they write that people in society who have less than the average want equality, people who have more than average want freedom.
They expand on this with examples of Slaves vs. Wealthy Athenians in ancient Greece, Peasant Farmers vs. Nobles in Feudal Societies and Workers vs. Owners in Capitalist Societies.
I have never heard this expressed so clearly and concisely. It makes perfect sense.
I have experienced both sides of this continuum and many points in between.
- Being unable to afford insurance…I believed universal healthcare was a “basic right”.
- When I was climbing the career ladder…I “deserved” earning more than others because of my contributions to the company.
- I believe food, shelter, clothing and basic safety are human rights…and yet, I don’t directly give up my own money to provide this for strangers.
In many ways, I’ve lived on the above average side of the equation for some of my adult life. I’ve been a homeowner, a successful middle-manager and an early retiree. I’m by no means wealthy, but I’m living far better than I did as a child who grew up poor.
And although I still believe that food, shelter, healthcare, clothing, safety, and education are basic necessities and, in many ways, basic rights, I also value freedom of expression, choice and action.
It’s an exercise in navel gazing for me anyway. I live in the US where I have no choice but to pay taxes and receive very little in the socialized benefits of countries that care more for their citizens (France, Germany, Scandinavia, UK, Canada, Australia, etc.).
Perhaps, if I lived in one of those countries, and if I was part of the upper echelon of people with wealth, power and privilege, I’d want more freedom and less equality.