The Question of Equality

NPR's Robert Seigel discusses Obama's minimum wage initiative in this article with guests from two different perspectives. I find it interesting because it really touches more the subject of equality. What are the 3 main focuses of government? Freedom, Order and Equality, right? Equality was not always in the mix as far U.S. priorities and still isn't for many countries, most of them being third world. So the concept of it is, basically, that all us U.S. citizens are equal. That no person is above the rest. At least not in the legal sense. But how far do you take it? Does it only go as far as race and gender or do you go as far as making every person economically equal? For most, they don't enjoy seeing people suffer. Most see it as the duty of a decent person to lend a hand when someones in need. When it gets to government policy and using our collective funds to pull those up that are barely scraping by it becomes a little more complicated. It ruffles a few feathers. Why? I think it's because once you go down that road you begin to wonder how far you go. At what point do you say, "Hey, if this country is what it says it is, if everyone was given the same educational opportunities and the same resources. Then why is it me, the person took advantage of those opportunies, the one paying the price to lift those who chose not to?" I feel this a topic is personal for many but we should really ask why we have the opinion that we do.

Political Biography

Growing up in my home town you'd have to try really hard to avoid politics. REALLY hard. You grew up next door to the Constable, had swimming lessons in the Commissioner's pool and we're invited to the Mayor's Christmas party every year because your brother remodeled his kitchen. Politics were personal. Politics were fun.

I was fortunate enough to be raised around a man who breathed not only politics and a good argument  but always fought for the underdog. Even when there wasn't much of a fight. Sometimes, especially so, because he believed that you didn't always fight to win and didn't speak only when you knew you'd be heard. He was a State Representative and he loved his job. Maybe I was spoiled by these circumstances. Maybe I have expectations that border romanticism because now that my small town is no longer small and the man that held such a big part of my heart is gone I don't see the fun in it.

Now, not even thirty, experiencing politics and the actions of those that I vote for through media I find myself disillusioned. I take my privilege to vote very seriously but I don't believe in the person I vote for. They are more like the lesser of two evils. I'm taking this course because it's required for my major but what I'd really like is to walk away with a little more pride. A little more faith that I can form an opinion on our government and the people we select to have the responsibility to run it because right now I just don't have one.