Equality is one of the most discussed topics in public policy. Although the concept of equal treatment seems straightforward, the variations in its definition and the vast range of public opinions make the concept much more complex. Some people argue that the government should enforce equality through policy regulations, while others strongly warn against anything more than minimal government involvement. Because the policies regarding equality create so much controversy among citizens, it is imperative that we resolve its meaning. Public policy makers should define equality as ensuring the same basic liberties and rights to all citizens in the polis. However, decisions should be made with the intent to minimize the trade-off between one person’s liberty and another’s equality. In the polis, the conflicting nature of opinions is not unique to equality. Deborah Stone believes that people’s ideas and “passion in politics comes from conflicting senses of fairness, justice, rightness, and goodness” (Stone 2012: 36). Although “people want …show more content…
Private interests are things that are best for an individual while public interests are “things that are good for a community as a community” (Stone 2012: 24). The conflict between the two interests introduces the question of how much the government can and should make decisions about citizen’s private liberties and choices. John Stuart Mill believed “government should interfere with individual choice as little as possible” because choices equate to freedom (Stone 2012: 108). Nozick agreed that the “minimal state is the most extensive state that can be justified” (Nozick 1974: 149). The role of government should be limited to ensuring the equal rights of its citizens. If government becomes more involved, it may end up obstructing liberty, even if it was trying to protect
One con to this case was that even under independent state equal protection analysis, state courts are still responding as did the U.S. Supreme Court: “the existence of ‘some inequality’ .. is not alone a sufficient basis for striking down the entire system.” This reluctance to require equality marks the majority of all state decisions, as it did in the federal equal protection field. Nonetheless, plaintiffs continue the traditional equality arguments (Verstegen, 1998).
Equal Opportunity, occasionally called equality of opportunity, is a contentious yet significant decision-making standard with no exact definition concerning fair preferences within the public domain (Austen 1999). Although it normally depicts open and just contest with equal possibilities for achieving employment without any discrimination, the idea is intangible with a broad meaning. It is difficult to determine, and execution leads to issues as well as differences concerning what to do. It is
can be hard to determine what equal is, does it mean we all get the
It is without a doubt that discrimination in this country has existed since its early stages. However, to this day after many movements and eras to try and eliminate it all together, it remains. And in this class, we seek to understand why. For these last couple of weeks, we discussed the 14th amendment and more specifically referenced its equal protection clause which vows to protect the fundamental rights of “all” citizens of the United States. Because of this state and federal governments attempt to create neutral laws that will apply fairly to all citizens in the United States. Which seems to be the best thing they can try and do nonetheless if a bill is said to be neutral, but has an unequal influence on a particular group of people problems
Based on the Constitution, it is possible for individuals in society to achieve equality because the I, II, VII, and XIII Amendments give citizens of the United States freedoms that were not originally given in the Constitution. Amendments I and Amendments II allows us to bear arms in order to protect ourselves from any violence and from criminals. Amendment I also gives us the ability to believe whatever religion without anyone saying what we should worship. It also gives us the right to speak freely and to peacefully protest. Amendments VIII and Amendment Xlll gives us the ability to protect ourselves from any government tyranny and it also gives us the ability to speak freely on what is unfair. It also gives us the right to be respected and it also protects us from being enslaved from another person. Although not many people believe in the Amendments II and VIII, these Amendments still are used to today and protects us as U.S. citizens. Lasting Thoughts: What is the last thing you want to tell me about your views on equality?
Equality in terms of the government means that every person no matter what the circumstances has equal protection under the law and every person must have a fair trial, If the government has a bias toward a certain group of people we can no longer trust our government to make fair decisions for the people of the nation.”All men are created equal” is written in the Constitution. When America was just the colonies of Britain people of the colonies were treated unjust compared to the people in
* Equality means treating people in a way that is appropriate for their needs. For example, an individual not able to mobilise efficiently but has been told they can’t use the lift they have to use the stairs like everyone else. This is not a great way to cater to the
“I never doubted that equal rights was the right direction. Most reforms, most problems are complicated. But to me there is nothing complicated about ordinary equality.” – Alice Paul (Alice Paul Quote)
In recent discussions of equal rights, a controversial issue is whether it means the equal treatment between women or men or equity. On one hand, according to the Equal Rights Amendment article found in Issues by John R, Vile most Equal Rights Amendments also known as ERA propose three parts to it. Section one which states “equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the US or any state on account of sex”. Section two which instructs “gives congress enforcement power and finally section three which calls for a transitional period of two years after its ratification.
Equality is something Americans strive to provide and maintain. It has become an integral and necessary part of our mosaic culture. Even now to the point that when people think of America, they naturally think of freedom and equality. People of many different races, disabilities and creeds have come to the United States seeking the impartiality upon which this country was founded. The institutions of this country have relied upon it, just as it was the created by the events in the laying of moral foundations. The expression of America's citizens plays an extremely significant role in the history of equality in American society. In the pursuit of equality and the "American Dream," people have authored inspiring
According to John Stuart Mill’s novel “On Liberty,” Mill argues that the government undeniability possesses the capability to destroy the freedom of many individuals. How do we prevent the government from abusing their power over individuals? The Harm Principle states that a
Racial Discrimination is a social injustice that people of color have been subject to for years. In the U.S., racial discrimination against people of color in the justice system generates a wide variety of public issues that influence the life possibilities of the Latino and Black communities. Race, status, and class are some of the main reasons for legal inequality. Laws were created in an effort to ensure the safety and stability of everyone everywhere. With that being said, however, the laws did and do not always have the best interest of certain race or minorities in mind, therefore legal equality has never ceased to exist because it never existed in the first place. This paper will argue how the U.S., has overlooked legal inequality for decades by referring to sources that we have discussed in class by Alexander, Cheryl, Brown v. Board of Education, Plessy v. Ferguson and Parents Involved v. Seattle School District to make the case that legal inequality is an ongoing issue today. Legal Equality is defined as…
Nozick makes the claim that, “…a minimal state, limited to the narrow functions of protection against force, theft, fraud, enforcement of contracts, and so on, is justified; and any more extensive state will violate a persons’ rights not to be forced to do certain things.” The rights he is referring to are his interpretation of John Locke’s natural rights of, “life, liberty, and property” which are inalienable rights that every person is born with and that, in both Locke and Nozick’s opinions, the state has no business interfering with. Nozick proposes that the minimal state arises as a sort of “dominant protection association” that garners a monopoly over the protection of natural rights within a community. It achieves this by offering the best quality protection for the best price compared to all other protection associations and is therefore the optimal choice for clients. Nozick stresses that, “competing protective services cannot coexist” so the dominant protective association becomes the minimal state when it is able to suppress and control others who, “seek to engage in rights violating … and protecting
“Equal right” grassroots movement has its origins in the United States. However, in just two decades, this situation has critically spread and reached the all world. Completely embrace the principle that stands for and protect all communities equally (Bullard, 2002).
What is equality? Is it just a political nomenclature or an ideological concept? Or is about working towards creating a fairer society in which each individual can enjoy his/her rights and freedom without any judgement considering that “[w]e will never have true civilization until we have learned to recognize the rights of others.” Will Rogers (1924, p210).