Merriam Webster’s online definition of “FAIR”, is here.
The term “fair” imports BIAS into the decision making process. There is ALWAYS a “more fair” solution for one side or the other in a dispute. Why?
“fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests”
What is FAIR?
How many times have those of us lucky enough to have children heard, “But that’s not FAIR !” ?
“fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests”
How often do POLITICIANS USE the term “fair” ? Why do politicians use the term FAIR? I suggest politicians use FAIR as a club, a weapon, to beat A MINORITY GROUP into SUBMISSION.
Review below the “discussion section of the Definition of FAIR” (highlights and Italics added), from Merriam-Webster online. NOTICE what is written about “fair”. (Hint: what does “a proper balance” imply?)
Synonym Discussion of FAIR
objective mean free from favor toward either or any side.fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests <a fairdecision>.just implies an exact following of a standard of what is right and proper <a just settlement of territorial claims>.equitable implies a less rigorous standard than just and usually suggests equal treatment of all concerned <theequitable distribution of the property>.impartial stresses an absence of favor or prejudice <an impartial third party>.unbiased implies even more strongly an absence of all prejudice <your unbiased opinion>.dispassionate suggests freedom from the influence of strong feeling and often implies cool or even cold judgment <a dispassionatesummation of the facts>.objective stresses a tendency to view events or persons as apart from oneself and one’s own interest or feelings <I can’t be objective about my own child>.
objective mean free from favor toward either or any side
just implies an exact following of a standard of what is right and proper
equitable implies a less rigorous standard than just and usually suggests equal treatment of all
impartial stresses an absence of favor or prejudice
unbiased implies even more strongly an absence of all prejudice
dispassionate suggests freedom from the influence of strong feeling and often implies cool or even cold judgment
objective stresses a tendency to view events or persons as apart from oneself and one’s own interest or feelings
Now, again:
fair implies a proper balance of conflicting interests
WHO decides ? Who decides what is “a PROPER BALANCE” ? The person using the term FAIR, or the person “translating in their head what is “fair”.
Why is THIS IMPORTANT? LOOK AT LADY LIBERTY ABOVE !
Why is LADY LIBERTY BLINDFOLDED? Because AMERICA was founded on the principle, the ideal, of “OUR LAWS” are to be applied to ALL peoples EQUALLY.
Consider: No where else is the concept of EQUALITY woven into societies’ FABRIC. Anywhere else? You want something done, you are going to pay “under the table” to get the Government officials to “authorize” your proposal. You are gonna pay someone, to get a FAIR hearing in your dispute in court. . .
Why is America different? Better? Above all other incarnations of law and government in the world?
EQUAL PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW. BLIND JUSTICE. ONE SET OF RULES.
CONSIDER, the popular, the pretty, the friend, the rich, the bully, the downtrodden, or the ugly and yes, even the despised and hated. America is different because we were built upon the foundations of:
“all men are created equal” and OUR LAW would apply EQUALLY to ALL peoples.
When someone uses the term FAIR, “watch for it”, just like when your child uses the term FAIR.
Their solution will NOT be:
objective, just, equitable, impartial, unbiased, dispassionate, or proper. However, it will be FAIR !
Their PROPER BALANCE will be more FAIR to their favored side.
Time for Lady Liberty to pull off the blindfold and start using the sword.
Food for thought. I have always been a proponent of fairness, but now I am wondering what I mean by ‘fair’. Sort of a general equal access, chance to have my view taken into account, maybe? Since I am usually not in the majority opinion for anything, I like the default action in anything to err on the side of liberty rather than control. Inaction is usually better than quick action- that’s fairer. There is no such thing as a truly impartial action. Now that the trend is to apply laws in a partisan way, stricter for some and lenient for others, even striving for impartiality is gone
You did a Rule 5! I see one of Lady Justices’ bazookas! Naughty!
She will never be blind so long as she is being manipulated.
What do we say….how do we communicate the Values encapsulated within the Declaration and Constitution to a couple of Generations who’ve been taught that “Fairness” = Dedistribution and vengeance( affirmative action ).
That is the great challange for us today as Conservatives or Jeffersonian Liberals or Libertarians.
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