Posted by
TheRationalRight on Friday, October 10, 2008 10:41:26 PM
As a former liberal, and as the sibling of several liberals, I truly believe that the motivations of most Democrats are admirable. The idea that people should not go hungry or have substandard healthcare is one we can all embrace. It is noble to work towards such goals, and I believe many Democrats believe they are truly helping the downtrodden through their agenda of social programs.
But their methods are flawed.
There is a fundamental principle of behavior management that liberals overlook. Undesirable behavior that is rewarded tends to continue, whereas desirable behavior that is punished tends to cease.
Suppose that the National Football League determined that it is unfair that certain teams (like the 2007 Patriots) could seemingly score at will, while other teams (like the 2007 Dolphins) could barely compete. To level the playing ground, the NFL decides to implement a new scoring system. Touchdowns are automatically worth 7 points (no need for an extra point attempt), but 4 points are awarded to the team that scores while 3 points are awarded to the opposing team. Field goals are still worth 3 points, and the scoring teams keeps all 3 points. If your goal is to accumulate the most points, what would your strategy be?
Offensive coaches would stop trying to score touchdowns, since that desirable behavior would result in a net punishment relative to other options. Defensive coaches would stop trying to prevent touchdowns, and this undesirable behavior would result in a net reward relative to other options. Once inside field goal range, a ball-carrier would find no resistance between himself and the end zone, and he would eventually stop trying for the end zone in order to down the ball for a field goal try. Eventually, teams will lose all sense of competition, and talent will atrophy.
The net result is the equality that was originally intended. But equal reality and equal opportunity are two entirely different outcomes. Equal reality punishes the talented from achieving their highest levels of success; equal opportunity rewards all who strive for their highest level of success.
There is a saying that a rising tide lifts all boats. However, some boats are permanently moored in their berths. A rising tide will sink those boats. So, is it unfair to the constricted ships when the rising tide lifts the seaworthy vessels? I think not. Yet the logical conclusion of my previously liberal attitude would be that the only fair thing to do is to drain the oceans to ensure that no ship ever sinks again.
The flaw, of course, is that no ship would ever sail again, either.