Justifying Inequality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25071/1874-6322.40651Keywords:
Piketty, Inequality, Meritocracy, Elections, Political OutcomesAbstract
Capital and Ideology begins observing that “[e]very human society must justify its inequalities: unless reasons for them are found, the whole political and social edifice stands in danger of collapse.” Economics justifies inequality based on meritocracy-- wealth goes to those who deserve it based on their talent and effort. Piketty contends this ignores obstacles to equality from past and present discrimination. This paper supports Piketty by looking at voting rights and property ownership in the US to understand racial, ethnic, and gender inequalities. From its beginnings, through the proprietarian regime of the early twentieth century, and at present, government policies have favored wealth acquisition by a relatively few. In the mid-20th century, the US achieved what Piketty and others have called ‘the golden age of social democracy,’ as policies helped create the US middle class and reduce inequality. The prosperity of the golden age was eroded by neoliberal policies enacted beginning in the late twentieth century. Support for policies that reduced progressive taxation, access to voting, and property rights was garnered using political rhetoric that scapegoated racial, ethnic and gender minorities. Despite its “meritocratic fairy tale”, from its founding, the US has seen limited equality.
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