First of all, let's look at the definition of equality. According to Merriam-Webster equality is defined as:
"the state or quality of being equal; the quality or state of having the same rights, social status, etc. "
In the United States, people are supposed to be equal, but all we have to do is look around to determine that this is not the case, at least according to the definition. Those with power and wealth are "more equal" than those who are poor or even than those who are part of the middle class. The very wealthy run the country and make the decisions for the rest of us. Our government is supposed to look at all of us as equal citizens, yet big money lobbies the government for their interests. Our representatives in Congress and the Senate are supposed to represent their constituents (us), but in order to stay in power, they have to raise huge sums of money; therefore, they are more likely to listen to those who have that money. According to behavioral economist Dan Ariely, Americans in the top 20% have 84% of the wealth, and those in the bottom 40% only have .2%. That is a huge disparity.
If we look at health, we see the same trend. Wealthy people have access to the best doctors and hospitals, while the poor often do not even have insurance so are sometimes forced to go without health care.
If we spread out across the world, equality becomes an even bigger issue. People who live in developing countries, like those in Africa and South America, do not have near the quantity or quality of resources that even some of the poorest Americans have.
On the other hand, is it really possible to have true equality? A great story to read on this very subject is Kurt Vonnegut's "Harrison Bergeron," about a society where everyone is equal in every way--a cautionary, satirical tale that takes equality to an extreme.
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