If we are to believe in equality and to tout the benefits of equality, we must agree to basic minimum living standards that – just by virtue of being human – everyone is entitled to. What I mean by this is – should every human expect shelter from the elements? Should every human expect to avoid malnourishment by eating healthy food? Should every human expect healthcare? To all of these questions, we must say yes if we are to create true equality. We must come to an agreement about what is the minimum standard for equality and thus human dignity. I can guarantee that a few kind words for a homeless and hungry woman does not translate to equality.
In America, we don’t agree that every human is entitled to a basic living. We use our biases and judgmentalness to justify our lack of sensitivity to the plight of those in poverty. Judging others for their conditions, saves us from evaluating our own selfishness. We can evaluate others negatively and justify our own actions and thoughts. “Those people don’t work hard, that’s why they are hungry!” “If he had gone to school, he wouldn’t be making minimum wage.”
That’s part of the difficulty inherent in equality, because we all have to agree to minimum living standards for everyone. Those standards have to apply to everyone, no matter what we think of how people live their life, each person has a right to shelter, food and healthcare. In the system we have now, talented, beautiful and the rich are the only ones entitled. If we admit that all humans are entitled to a living, we might have to do something about it. That would require a contribution from everyone.
In America, we are so taken in by mass marketing, that we have actually believed that giving “dignity and respect” means that we have created equality here. We have not.
