Equally unequal

​Equally Unequal
 
When I was first introduced to the Challenger Learning Center at what was then Wheeling Jesuit University I was informed that one of the objectives was to teach children and adults the value of team work.   Essential to team work was the recognition that all jobs on the team were equally valuable.   Yet, in our broader society in the United States as well as many other countries, we do not view all jobs in the community as equally valuable.   We recognize the values we place on a particular job or role in the community by:
 

• Salary/income.  Some individuals make millions of dollars and some make less than a living wage.
• Status.  Status can be conferred on individuals by title, size and placement of office, costume, perks such a lounges at airports, country clubs, service at stores and restaurants, seating and service on a commercial airplane, neighborhood, school choices, and a host of others.
• Access to quality legal service, competent health care, safety of vehicles, police protection or lack thereof,  and access to other community services.

 
We justify the value we place on a particular job or role in the community by:
 

• Amount of formal education whether or not that education is directly related to the job performance.
• Cost of education and need to repay loans.
• Deferment of start of job at full or normal income level.
• Scarcity of individuals available to perform that job.
• Market forces.

 
We deny using other factors to determine the value of a person  or a role.  Some of the factor we deny are;
 

• Social construct of race
• Gender
• Family connections
• Luck – hand we are dealt at birth.
• Interdependence – extent to which we are dependent on each other.
• Illusion of free will/choice – belief that we can all pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.   
• Extent of gratitude for gifts of basic rights.
• Role of mental illness and other “dis ease”.
• Physical appearance.
• Religion
• Belief in the superiority of race, culture, country, etc.

 
While I am not a member of the 1 % I have enjoyed certain privileges based on:
 

• Gender – male
• Race – White or perceived white/Caucasian
• Christian or perceived Christian
• When young acting heterosexual
• Absence of incapacitating mental  or other illness.
• Willingness to obey or belief in general cultural rules.
• Luck of certain intellectual ability which is considered valuable to culture.
• Attending college when it was much more affordable.
• Luck of not being attached to making a lot of money or enjoying certain perks.
• Lucky breaks throughout my adult life.
• Being born at certain historical time.
• Luck of early role models and belief in my ability.

 
 
Certainly in the United States and in many other countries we act as if everyone have or nearly everyone has:
 

• Equal opportunity.
• Free will – all or most  born with  brain capable of making healthy choices to fit in and achieve at same or similar level.
• Same belief in “American dream” or same belief in what constitutes success.
• Ability to choose victim role or success role.
• If given the right housing, food and basic health care all will take the next step toward achieving success as defined by larger community.

 
In the United States we have:
 

• Many homeless individuals and families.
• Many people living at or below poverty line.
• Many people who are unable, for a variety of reasons, to fit into the larger community even if given  a “hands up”.
• Many individuals who achieve a traditional level of success as defined by the community despite many of the negative factors outlined above.
• Many individuals who are addicted to power, sex, alcohol, other drugs, food and even seemingly victimhood/fear.
• Increasing disparity between the 1% and everyone else.
• A group of people who earn very high incomes and amass wealth even after paying off school loans but still justify their wealth based on delayed start of career, and length of education.

 
If we truly want a society in which all are equal, we have to come to terms with and address all the above factors.  If we want business as usual then we have to be more honest and figure out how to quell the restlessness and/or design a more acceptable form of what I am choosing to label as genocide.
 
Written February 24, 2020
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org