Economic Inequality
In this chapter I believe the main theme Hudson discusses is both political and social equality and inequality. Political equality is defined as all people being equally qualified to rule. Hudson says this is the core value of democratic theory. Hudson thinks we should be Skeptical of elite leadership because of their alleged superiority. He states that this has lead to revolutions. Despite this fact there are many theories as to why the elite should be allowed to rule. Many believe that they have divine right, racial supremacy, and aristocratic blood. They also believe that some people are just born with this knowledge on how to govern and to not believe in that system is to believe in a broken government. Hudson uses the ideas of Plato as an example. Plato believed in elite rule, he believed that power should be given to the person that has been trained on how to use it since birth. Some flaws with Plato’s ideas are that politics are about the end game rather than the details of getting there. Hudson goes on to say that the relationship between political and social equality in a democratic society is controversial. Equal rights to political participation does not require that citizens be equal in any other way. Hudson says that one way to be sure we are benefiting from equality is if the political rules of the game are the same for everyone, there should be no cause for concern. Political equality assures that the government will make the rules of economic and social competition fair for all.
I agree with Hudson’s views. I do not believe that the elite should be allowed to rule just because they are of a higher socioeconomic status. That is basically the definition of inequality treating someone differently based on their socioeconomic status. Some elite are able to see as most people do but for the most part they can not see equal to us. When a person is eligible to run for office no matter their status the rule will be more fair and just.
There was an amazing article written just before our course started that i read from the Wall Street Journal. It is titled how income equality helped trump. The article talks about how in 2016 Hillary’s main campaign topic was economic inequality.she preached this topic in hopes that people would believe she would make this more economically equal. This actually proved to be her downfall. During this time middle class and lower middle class voters actually saw an increase of up to double their spending after taxes. They didn’t feel the economic inequality she was preaching and this urged them to vote for Trump.
Do you agree with Plato’s theory that the power should go to those that have been trained their whole lives to handle it?
If yes how do you think and elite rule like that could / would work in the US?
