Rationalizing inequality—for example, by seeing it as emerging from a fair, legitimate, and meritocratic system—serves a palliative function not only in the United States, but in nine other countries as well. That is, right-wingers report greater happiness and satisfaction than left-wingers around the world, and most especially in countries where the overall quality of life is relatively low. The endorsement of meritocratic beliefs is also associated with subjective well-being in these countries. Furthermore, meritocratic beliefs account for the association between political orientation and subjective well-being to a significant degree.
Now, I don't like placing myself on the left-right spectrum, but if I do subscribe to the traditional Protestant work ethic, and accept inequality, so I guess that puts me on the right. And happy I am.
To go Bible for a minute, I think about Jesus' parable on the talents shows that even though each of us inherit or are given unequal resources, we are expected to do the most we can in our life to be better and do better. At the same time, the poor will always be with us, and the Proverbs make it clear that "He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for their Maker, but whoever is kind to the needy honors God."
So I am pro-meritocracy and pro-charity. I give credit and thanks to God for my good blessings, and recognize that the more blessings I have the bigger my responsibility to do good for others. But I don't think you can have virtue without choice, so taxes and a collectivist society are not the tools I prefer to help the needy.
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