Equal But Not The Same: Equality, Equity And Reality

The subject of equality is still one of the most sensitive in our society today. Life is sacred. Every man deserves equal right, and to be accorded the same respect and treatment. Fair as this may sound, the truth or better still the reality is, no two persons are the same. People will always differ in needs, opinion, interest, passion, potential, motivation and productivity.

Exclusive Equality is Invalid

Equality as an ideology is valid but only if rooted in equity. Actually, people clamor for equality because equity is missing. We have equity when equality is considered in the light and reality of the complexity, diversity and multiplicity of human nature, existence, needs and pursuit.

Some persons are ambitious while others are content. Many are leaders while others are followers. Some are conformists while others are not. Some are introverts while others are extroverts. A lot are dependent while others are independent.

Potentials are Constant, Outcomes are Variable

The fundamental truth is every human has a potential. However, no two persons have the same potential. If by accident they do, the degrees will not be the same. In a case the degrees are the same, passions to fulfill the potential will not be the same. If the passions are the same, levels of productivity will not be the same. In a case the levels of productivity are the same, the outcomes will not be the same.

Two persons with similar potentials, if given the same opportunity and support will not produce the same result. Even identical twins from the same sperm cell, egg, gestational sac, parents and background will not have the same outcome.

Extremities of Global Wealth Distribution

There are people who are extraordinary by virtue of the results they command, the impacts they generate and the feats they achieve. There are people who have the capacities to produce effects similar to those of tens, hundreds, thousands and even millions of other people.

In our world today, we have individuals who are richer than some nations. Currently, 1% of the world population possess 50.1% of the total global wealth (Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report 2017). According to Oxfam International’s press release in January 2018, the richest 42 people in the world have as much wealth as the poorest half of the global population (about 3.82 billion people).

Success is a Choice not a Right

Out of the world’s 100 richest people in 2013, 73 are self-made, coming from poverty to riches. 36 are children of poor parents, 18 have no college degree, and some had neither degree nor wealthy parents (bloomberg.com). 69% of the 400 Americans on the Forbes’ 2014 billionaires list were considered self-made. Meaning they created their own fortune. One of the Forbes’ 2018 first 100 world’s billionaires is a Nigerian.

Self-Motivation and Passion

Self-motivation and passion are part of major factors that separate achievers from the rest. Unfortunately, majority of people lack these qualities. According to the Pareto 80/20 principle, “80% of impacts are generated by only 20% of the people.” A finding of the multilevel marketing industry on the behaviour and productivity of members revealed that:

“75% of the people who join never recruit anyone.
95% fail to make any money and eventually quit. 
3% make a little money but eventually quit. 
1% make some profit and stay involved. 
Another 1% make substantial profit and stay involved.
Only a tiny percentage, perhaps one in one thousand, becomes wealthy and financially independent.” (www.spiritofmaat.com).

A survey linked to New York Times and quoted by several authors, stated that, “81% of Americans want to write a book but only 1% actually do.”

Lack of motivation is caused by lack of vision and reasonable desire for accomplishment. Vision produces the passion that drives a man to success. Bill Cosby said, “in order to succeed, your desire to succeed should be greater than your fear of failure.”

Human Apathy

No matter what anybody or governments do, those who will be poor will be poor. Besides, no government or system can sustain or make everybody rich. Only the people if allowed can build themselves.

Even if you drop success at the doorstep of people, some will still ask why you didn’t bring it to their bedroom. Femi Adetayo of onestopmotivate.com once wrote:

“Even if all the money in the world is dropped on the streets for everyone to pick as much as they can. Some people will still be poor. Do you know why? They will say “it’s fake money, it’s a scam, it’s evil money e.t.c. Another set will be too busy watching TV, that they won’t be able to come out to pick money.”

Socialism Versus Capitalism

Socialism is a system that protect the poor and the weak. In the process the rich and the strong are suppressed. Socialism streamlines the outcomes of people, not minding the inherent differences in their potentials and capacities to fulfill their dreams. Exclusive socialism abrogates the fundamental human right of self-actualization. It kills the drive that spur people to be competitive. Venezuela is a socialist country. It is currently battling with the world worst economic crisis.

Capitalism if properly regulated generates a sustainable wealth and job opportunities. It promotes entrepreneurship, economic independence and attract local and foreign investments. It encourages people with potentials for high productivity, excellence and extra-ordinariness.

The United States is a capitalist country. It generated more than half of the total global wealth aggregation in 2017 (Credit Suisse Global Wealth Report 2017).

However, no country in the world has ever succeeded practicing either exclusive socialism or capitalism. The best economies in the world have managed to strike a balance between both, in order to protect the interests of both the poor and the rich, the weak and the strong.

Life is sacrosanct. But equality will be valid only if it is inclusive. For mankind to flourish and the world sustainable, we must embrace equity and accept our individual differences with all sincerity. Everybody is equal but we are not all the same.