Equality
of results, the demand that shares be equalized for those who have contributed
to production, those who have abstained from production, and those who have
hampered production, in addition to undermining the economic system’s ability
to produce, is morally offensive. (my
paraphrase from Thomas Sowell, The Conflict of Visions, p. 92). Look at the experience of our pilgrim progenitors
(those who knew Sqanto and celebrated the first Thanksgiving) who tried, indeed
believed their salvation required, an equal shares system:
“The
experience that was had in this common course and condition, . . . that the
taking away of property and bringing in community into a commonwealth would
make them happy and flourishing; as if they were wiser than God. For this
community . . . was found to breed much confusion and discontent and retard
much employment that would have been to their benefit and comfort. For the
young men, that were most able and fit for labor and service, did repine that
they should spend their time and strength to work for other men's wives and
children without any recompense. The strong, or man of parts, had no more in
division of victuals and clothes than he that was weak and not able to do a
quarter the other could; this was thought injustice. . . And for men's wives to be commanded to do
service for other men, as dressing their meat, washing their clothes, etc.,
they deemed it a kind of slavery, neither could many husbands well brook it."
". . . At length, after much debate of things,
the Governor . . . gave way that they should set corn every man for his own
particular, and in that regard trust to themselves; . . . And so assigned to
every family a parcel of land, according to the proportion of their number, . .
. This had very good success, for it made all hands very industrious, so as
much more corn was planted than otherwise would have been by any means the
Governor or any other could use.”
The passages are from William Bradford, History of Plymouth
Plantation, (http://mith.umd.edu//eada/html/display.php?docs=bradford_history.xml), paragraphs #217 then #216.
