As I argue in my new book, America’s Ticking Bankruptcy Bomb, social safety net policies to prevent human suffering and deprivation are well justified. In civilized societies, there is broad consent to such policies, which just recognize the moral obligation of each to help their fellow man.Go read the entire piece for more details; you will not be disappointed.
But once such policies are established, going beyond them to take from some by force of law what they have produced and consequently earned, to give to others merely for the purpose of making incomes and wealth more equal, is unjustifiable and counterproductive. Vonnegut’s story helps to explain why.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Socialism, Social Justice, and Vonnegut
Vonnegut's story Harrison Bergeron is what's being referenced here:
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1 comment:
Amusingly, there is some evidence that Vonnegut considered Harrison Bergeron the bad guy in that story.
See http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m2455/is_4_35/ai_91040892/ for an example.
Doesn't change the point of the link or this post, but interesting none the less.
-Mark Roulo
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