Status Quo and Political Inertia
To more broadly support the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, some changes must be made to current society. Before I go into a few changes, let me note that any change is always resisted. Why? Because some people are favored by the current rules and they may lose status, money, or opportunity by changes.
Status quo is the political inertia of social sciences. To change any situation, force must be applied.
Change in Society
One must be prepared for gripes from those people who benefit from the existing status quo. It doesn’t matter whether on an absolute scale they deserve their benefit or not. They have it. They’re going to lose it. They’re going to be pissed.
As FDR put it, “It is an unfortunate human failing that a full pocketbook often groans more loudly than an empty stomach.”
It’s no wonder that calls to increase economic equality are always met with groans from the haves.
Ability and Success
The likelihood for people to rise according to their own ability is measured by changes in their economic income. In the United States, if you are born into the lowest income range, 42% of you will remain in that range through your life, not 20% as statistical likelihood predicts. That is, your family’s income at birth is twice as likely to affect your future possibilities as your innate ability. That is contrary to the common thought that we are promoted to the level of our abilities.
Success of Society
Nevertheless, many rules and procedures have served the population well. For instance, it would be foolhardy to change the right to a fair and speedy trial. That is a radical change that’s not needed. Everyone continues to want fair and speedy, although there remain arguments over fairness.
Still, change is needed. Crime needs to come down and opportunity needs to increase. Healthcare and education need to improve (change) for those goals to be reached.
Related Posts
Crime and Social Contract Opportunity must be offered for crime to diminish.
High School Attendance A student’s failure detracts from society’s production and adds to crime, but it doesn’t have to.
Image Citation
W. A Rogers, 1854-1931 / Public domain. Wikimedia Commons
