We have become a society consumed by the concept of fairness. Things of which we disapprove or perceive to be to our disadvantage are unfair. Things we perceive as being to our advantage or of which we approve are fair. What is fair to me may be unfair to you and vice versa. I’ve given a lot of thought to this whole concept of fairness and in many ways have struggled with an answer that satisfies me.
The first time I really started thinking about it was when my children were young. They frequently declared that things were unfair. Of course, these were generally things they didn’t like, such as dad telling them they couldn’t go certain places or do certain things. They could never explain what they meant by not fair other than they didn’t like it. But in their defense no one else seems to be able to adequately describe it either.
Denouncing something as unfair has become a socially acceptable way of saying “I don’t like it.” It seems to say that fairness has some intrinsic value like good or evil. These are two other concepts which also are difficult to explain but have a more intuitive meaning than fairness. Is it fair that one person works harder than another and so makes more money? Is it fair that one person was born with musical ability? Is it fair that another person is born with natural athletic talents? (If it were up to me, I’d say it is unfair since I have neither musical nor athletic ability.)
For many, the natural inequities of life create a perceived issue of fairness or unfairness. The beneficiaries of natural gifts will of course consider it fair that they are able to benefit from those gifts. Those who perceive themselves without such gifts will deem it unfair and ask for special considerations to allow them to be equal with those they consider more advantaged.
So, what is The Grumpy Doc’s opinion about fairness. Well, I’ll tell you what I told my kids. There is no absolute fairness. You cannot define fairness to the satisfaction of all people. Things are the way they are. If you don’t like them, work hard to change them. If you do like things, work hard to keep them the same.
If there is any fairness, it is that we should all have an equal opportunity to work for the things that we want. That doesn’t mean we all start from the same place and those who have been disadvantaged by society in the past must be give equal opportunity with consideration of past inequalities. To those who say they have never benefitted from special consideration: “What’s your golf handicap?”
Do I know how to achieve these things? Sadly, no. That is for people smarter than me. Do I consider it unfair that there are people smarter than me? No, I’m glad. If The Grumpy Doc were the smartest guy around, we would all be in trouble.
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