The Friedmans & Fairness

The Friedmans view on fairness can be summarized in one simple phrase of theirs: “Life is not fair”. That’s just how things are. Some are born with natural talents in areas where most people lack endowment. Some are more successful and have more luck than the average Joe. The Friedmans believed that although all people are equal before God and should be equal before the law, the freedom to succeed and pursue your talents is a personal liberty and part of what makes America such a proud country today. Personal freedom is interrupted when the freedom to succeed is taken away in the name of fairness. The Friedmans see the idea of fair shares as being far too simplistic, essentially impossible, and ultimately not what people want. The Friedmans couldn’t be more right.
First of all, it is ridiculous to assume that fairness can be implemented for all people. Fairness is only capable of being achieved with cooperation from the individuals involved. If a person who has no talent in...