"In its majestic equality, the law forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, beg in the streets and steal loaves of bread." - Anatole France (https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Anatole_France)
> The homeless, penniless child should never steal the loaf of bread when all other, apparent, options are exhausted.
'The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread.' - Anatole France
"In its majestic equality, the law forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, beg in the streets and steal loaves of bread."
-- Anatole France
It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes. Distinctions in society will always exist under every just government. Equality of talents, of education, or of wealth can not be produced by human institutions. In the full enjoyment of the gifts of Heaven and the fruits of superior industry, economy, and virtue, every man is equally entitled to protection by law; but when the laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages artificial distinctions, to grant titles, gratuities, and exclusive privileges, to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society — the farmers, mechanics, and laborers — who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their government. There are no necessary evils in government. Its evils exist only in its abuses. If it would confine itself to equal protection, and, as Heaven does its rains, shower its favors alike on the high and the low, the rich and the poor, it would be an unqualified blessing.
pretty damn relevant today. (rent seeking, crony capitalism, lobbyists writing the bills)
> People would rather be miserably poor and ruled by a ruling class that they identify with than have higher living standards and be ruled by an out group.
There's truth to that no doubt. But I would say many also prefer to be ruled by those who give them preferential treatment over others. But I have faith that many people prefer to be ruled by a democratic system of equal justice.
> Humans will always crave to have more than each other ad will steal, loot, defraud, do anything to get there.
Yes and currently society has many many ways for the privileged to get even more than others than they already have, in ways that are legally accepted even if they’re morally reprehensible. And as long as we don’t change that and make the playing field more even, I don’t think judging petty theft so harshly makes any sense at all.
>It follows that using wealth as a measure [for deserving] is definitely a bad choice.
It's not a choice. Would you rather it be wealth or violence? As civilizations mature, the power that happens to be encapsulated in a tribal (read gang) leader's threat of physical violence and banishment transmogrifies into debt obligations once a strong civil law foundation is in place.
>By what measure do you or I deserve more than poor people?
Who decides who deserves what? Let me know and we'll start lobbying next Monday ;)
“Don't you understand that it's a question of power, and money means power. It's as simple as that.”
We ought to be angry sometimes. Maybe you'll like this one better:
It is to be regretted that the rich and powerful too often bend the acts of government to their selfish purposes. Distinctions in society will always exist under every just government. Equality of talents, of education, or of wealth can not be produced by human institutions. In the full enjoyment of the gifts of Heaven and the fruits of superior industry, economy, and virtue, every man is equally entitled to protection by law; but when the laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages artificial distinctions, to grant titles, gratuities, and exclusive privileges, to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of society — the farmers, mechanics, and laborers — who have neither the time nor the means of securing like favors to themselves, have a right to complain of the injustice of their government. There are no necessary evils in government. Its evils exist only in its abuses. If it would confine itself to equal protection, and, as Heaven does its rains, shower its favors alike on the high and the low, the rich and the poor, it would be an unqualified blessing.
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Anatole_France
reply