Income Equality, Equality, and Equality of Opportunity

I am hearing recently a great deal of political discussion, especially from the political left and the Democrats, about something called "income inequality".  The term makes me wince, for unless those who want "income equality" are proposing to level everyone's income to the exact same level (probably a dream for some, I fear), a more accurate term for what they are trying to express would be "income disparity".   Most rational people, regardless of their political affiliation, recognize that it is important for our economy to encourage hard work and innovation in the workplace and marketplace...and to reward those successful in this with a larger income.  So being able to strive to make more money, and enjoying the benefits of that extra income, is a legitimate and crucial element in keeping a prosperous economy afloat and growing.  Also, just because someone earns more money than someone else doesn't mean that the "extra" money the other has just disappears...it circulates throughout the economy with spending and investment.  Even with worldwide investing, where money leaves the country, it eventually comes back along with foreign investments here.  So I am not particularly concerned with the idea of "income disparity" either.

As a matter of fact, let's bring the argument about "equality" to the floor and place it in its proper context.  What those who promote equality should be saying is that they support "equality of opportunity" and "equal rights".  But what one chooses to do with their opportunities and rights is up to them: this is where the important concept of the right to liberty comes in, as was so eloquently put by Thomas Jefferson in the Declaration of Independence...

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

The political discussion should be about equality of opportunity of everyone, which means that education should be given a high place in our list of priorities.  A wealthy family is in a better position to bestow opportunities to its offspring, while the poor is less able to accomplish this.  It is important to realize that the children, whether rich or poor or in-between, are not themselves responsible for where they stand in this regard.  Equality of opportunity means that anyone, regardless of their family's economic status, has access to resources that they can use to contribute to society according to their own abilities and hard work, and make a better life for themselves.  It is here that I believe that Democrats should be focusing their attention, not protesting against income and wealth disparity...