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Deborah Stone Definition Of Equality

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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

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