Whether it is the citizens of Cuba, issues in Iraq, or what happens right here at home, there is seemingly endless commentary on equality, but John Adams seemingly did not believe that all people ARE equal:
“Pick up, the first 100 men you meet, and make a Republick. Every Man will have an equal Vote. But when deliberations and discussions are opened it will be found that 25, by their Talents, Virtues being equal, will be able to carry 50 Votes. Every one of these 25, is an Aristocrat, in my Sense of the Word; whether he obtains his one Vote in Addition to his own, by his Birth Fortune, Figure, Eloquence, Science, learning, Craft Cunning, or even his Character for good fellowship and a bon vivant.”
Is he right? Do we put too much emphasis on equality when, in reality, not everyone IS equal?
3 Comments
There are three different equalities. Equal rights under the law. Laws that insure equal opportunity. Laws that insure equal results.
I think that most Americans choose euqal opportunity and freedom.
I also think that most Americans believe that each person deserves and has the right to exactly one vote, but many people mistake the U.S. for a pure democracy.
Adams is thinking in terms of a representative republic and the importance of “deliberations and discussions.” Our political discouse could be improved if the best and brightest were allowed to truly debate issues and policies without politicizing everything in terms of opinion polls and votes.
Well put. I will add only that I think the point about the US and a pure democracy….it is a fact that we are, indeed, a republic where rather than voting ourselves, we elect people who supposedly know better than we do, to do the voting for us.
Obviously a semi-elitist like Adams agreed with that, and is offering up a semi-apology for that stance here.
I completly understand what they mean everyone is suppose to be equal not everyone is treated the same though the feelin isnt fair people need to learn to respect everyon
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