Single Idea 6478

[catalogued under 25. Social Practice / B. Equalities / 2. Political equality]

Full Idea

As things are, democracy is the enemy of comprehensive equality, once the poor cease to be a majority.

Gist of Idea

Democracy is opposed to equality, if the poor are not a majority

Source

Thomas Nagel (Equality and Partiality [1991], Ch.9)

Book Reference

Nagel,Thomas: 'Equality and Partiality' [OUP 1995], p.89


A Reaction

This is obvious once you think about it, but it is well worth saying, because it is tempting to think that we live in an 'equal' society, merely because we are equal in things such as voting rights and equality before the law.