Using the principles of original positions, I do not believe that each person in our society has an equal right to the most extensive basic liberty that is compatible with a similar liberty for others nor are the social/economic inequalities arranged so that they are to the greatest benefit of the least advantaged and attached to positions under conditions of fair equality of opportunity. The inequalities in the US are not set in such a way, discussed in class, that allows people to grow while being challenged to excel or accomplish more. If anything the inequalities keep the least advantaged people disadvantaged with no intention or hopes of ever being in a position to do better. The welfare system, is one with good intentions, but often is used as a crutch that leads to people being dependent upon a small means of assistance rather than an incentive to continue to work one's way out of a tough situation.
Also the offices/positions attached to social/economic inequalities are not open to all under conditions of fair equality of opportunity. In our society, everyone does not run the risk of living in poverty or the advantage of being extremely wealthy. There are those that have money that's heavily secured and so profound that the greatest blows of an economic crisis like we're going through now would not affect their well-being , and then there are those that can never combat those same blows despite effort to overcome their present situations. For these people, being wealthy or in the opposite condition of their present one is not a realistic possibility. I would think that under conditions of fair equality of opportunity, either one of these positions would be possible for anyone no matter what, but in the US, I don't believe this is so.
What do you all think? How does the US measure up to Rawls' Principles of original position?
I think that the United States attempts to provide enough 'checks and balances' in its system to measure up to the idea of the veil of ignorance. Theoretically, if enough people have to check over anything being done, someone will find the things wrong with it. However, the veil of ignorance is so hypothetical it can never exactly be recreated in a society. Nobody can simply forget all of their past experiences and not apply that knowledge to their actions. It is a great idea (being completely not self-interested to then better the whole of society) but I do not know how it could ever be achieved.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, Destiny. I think that we have major issues if we use Rawls as a measurement. While it seems like our contract as represented in the Constitution would meet Rawls's standard, it reality it does not. I guess this is because, like Andrea said, it is impossible to meet every standard. Still, there is space for significant and realistic improvement. Racial, socioeconomic, religious, and ethnic minorities, women, the disabled, all face the reality of inequality within our society in major ways. This makes me think again of the American Dream and its function within our society. Is it that we tell ourselves we all have the opportunity to succeed so that we don't have to face our real issues?
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