Introduction
The American dream is one of the most famous declarations of the world and the American subsequent governments have kept the dream alive for the last hundred years. The dream is a national ethos that assures the citizens an equal opportunity for a prosperous and value-added lifestyle. The set of ideas promotes the spirit of hard work among the citizens and emphasizes self sufficiency. The equity of outcome holds the view that life must be fuller, richer and successful for everyone despite their backgrounds. Prosperity in the equity of outcome is pegged on hard work and ability to achieve greatness (Deutsch, 2013). The equity of outcome is based on the American declaration which states that all men are created equal and they have been privileged to have some undeniable rights. This paper seeks to identify and describe how the equity of outcome can be understood in the American economic setting where the distribution of wealth is quite disproportionate (Deutsch, 2013).
Basic Principle of the American Dream
To understand the American dream, it is vital to identify the economic structure of the United States first of all. Owing to the revelations made during the economic meltdown in 2007/2008, the distribution of wealth in the world’s most powerful nation is lopsided. Over the years, the meaning of the equity of opportunity has been changing with some governments defining it also in personal components such as the right to own a home and the opportunity for upward mobility (Deutsch, 2013). The equity of opportunity also states that all men and women of the great nation should be able to achieve greatness and prosperity through hard work. This includes even their offspring who are entitled for a basic education and prosperous career without the artificial hindrances (Deutsch, 2013).
Effectiveness of the Equity of Opportunity
The equity of opportunity has been equally criticized as applauded from various points of view (Snyder, 2012). Looking at the very least of its criticism, apparently some critics feel that the equity of opportunity promises unachievable prosperity only benefiting a few people. However, looking at the reasoning behind the equity of opportunity, it is very clear that the equity of opportunity is an ideal ideology given the right approach. Some of the critics of the dream take the declaration halfway (Snyder, 2012). The declaration states that every citizen has a right to achieve greatness and prosperity according to his or her ability (Snyder, 2012). The layman’s meaning of this statement is that anyone can achieve greatness as long as he or she is ready to work hard for it. Many would wish the last part of the deliration never existed so as to justify laziness and blame game.
There is nothing wrong with the Wall Street and the citizens making money and improving their lives in the stock markets (Snyder, 2012). The dream still lives on and assures those who try to make an effort will reap as much as they deserve. Therefore, the declaration is clear that one has a right to get whatever he or she wants as long as they are willing to work hard to achieve their dream. The idea is not to have it because you want it or because someone else has it (Deutsch, 2013). Critics have grossly lost the point by referring to the stock market as the Wall Street shenanigans calling it the corporate greed (Deutsch, 2013). It seems like some people have forgotten about the important elements of the dream that emphasize on hard work, careful financial planning, ethics and nationalism. The equity of opportunity discourages the feeling of entitlement and most of the great men and women in the United States were not elevated to their positions of honor because they felt entitled to it (Deutsch, 2013). On the contrary, they worked hard to get to where they are.
Understanding the Equity of Opportunity
To understand the equity of opportunity, one has to shift their thinking from the dependent state to the self-sufficient attitude. The dream offers equal opportunity to all Americans and other immigrants but with the conditions of hard work (Deutsch, 2013). The equity of opportunity promises equal opportunities yet again the American population is very uneven in terms of wealth distribution. A few considered wealthy are very rich while the majorities described as poor are living in dire poverty (Deutsch, 2013). This is the basic principle used by the critics to undermine the positive impacts of the American dream. However, the equity of opportunity should be understood in the light of the conditions it presents (Deutsch, 2013). For a better life and opportunities to achieve greatness, there must be a price to pay and the price is hard work and intelligent planning (Deutsch, 2013).
Equality of Outcome
In the equality of outcome, fairness for securing important jobs and luxurious positions is mandatory. Contenders of such position are to be given equal opportunities and fair judgment without any form of discrimination (Deutsch, 2013). The declaration supports the abolition of subjective prejudice in the process of selection hence assuring every candidate of an equal opportunity in the job market. This is not only applicable in the work place but also in other areas in the society (Deutsch, 2013). Equal rights and opportunities in owning homes, securing loans and pursuing academic excellence are also included in the spirit of the equality of outcome. It is applied in other areas to give equal chance to compete in every framework of goals and the structure of rules established (Hinckley, 2013). Fairness and equality are major components in the equality of outcome and one of its greatest strength. Equality of outcome is generally defined as the procedural value of fair treatment by the existing rules.
Meaning of the Equality of Outcome
The equality of outcome is not a material expression of happiness, it rather stands for a deeper spiritual fulfillment. There has been a disparity about what brings the ultimate happiness in an individual’s life where some people assert that hard work and determination may not be the ultimate solution. This notion is marred with the belief that fairness and success cannot be achieved at the same time (Hinckley, 2013). Most people feel that in the near future it will become more difficult to get ahead through hard work and fairness at the same time. In essence, the equality of outcome gives hope and assurances of a better tomorrow.
The equality of outcome makes the United States known for its enormous opportunities and majority of the world observers attest to this ideology. The equality of outcome asserts that one can be whatever he she desires to be as long as they work hard to achieve their goals. The equality of outcome is about self gratification and the pursuit of happiness. Greatness notwithstanding, the equality of outcome advocates that men and women should do everything in their power to achieve their goals and be happy with their lives.
The Shortcomings of the Equality of Outcome
While the ideal equality of outcome has been celebrated over the years and applauded for being the world’s most famous national principle, it is not devoid of limitations. Critics argue that there is a difference between success and money. Under this assumption, the American dream is seen as a principle of acquiring and consolidating immense wealth. In a criticizing manner, people feel that money and wealth are not the solution to human problems and this is a critical aspect of looking at the equality of outcome. To some degree, it raises aspersions on whether what we need is money or happiness. The equality of outcome does not offer a provision for such kind of happiness and critics think that it was composed under the assumption that money would give happiness.
Racism on Wall Street has dominated the arguments by critics who feel that the stock market is a place for greedy businessmen and racists. This is in contradiction with the equality of outcome promise of parity. This straight relates to positive action in college admissions as a way to help neutralize favoritism (Hinckley, 2013). As exposed in the recommenced study, people do not employ based exclusively on advantage. If companies have a preference to employ whites over blacks, who knows for what other marginalized groups might be discriminated. In order to set the equilibrium for the incalculable forms of unfairness, which the minorities still face nowadays, an additional generous compensation to overcome these unquantifiable drawback seems the reasonable one. If someone goes to a somewhat better school since he or she is an alternative constituent, it will help to counterbalance the unfairness in applying for jobs and in that respect, assenting achievement will be victorious.
The truth about American civilization is not attractive, and the particulars establish it. According to the United States opinion poll Bureau, blacks are twice as expected to be poor contrast to other races, and eight times as likely to be jailed. Blacks are also three times supplementary to be found guilty of drug infringements than whites. Only 75 percent of blacks have conventional post-high school learning, contrasted to 85 percent of whites. Not astonishingly, blacks normally also have less money than their white counterparts. The equality of outcome, therefore, is not the ideal principle considering these facts but, on the other hand, it has made the country a better place to be.
This paper has discussed the difference between equity of outcome and of opportunity in a broad and concise manner. The paper also discusses the various ways of understanding the equality of outcome, citing some of its strengths and weaknesses. The paper asserts that the equality of outcome has both advantages and equally serious shortcomings that create a mixed reaction from critics and supporters from all over the world. This essay has described the clear meaning and intent of the equality of outcome as it was meant to be by the founders of the nation.
Works Cited
Deutsch, Philip. The American Dream is still. 2012. Web.
Hinckley, Gordon. Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds. 2012. Web.
Snyder, Michael. Why Preppers Should Be Thrilled That The Stock Market Has Hit An All-Time High. 2012. Web.