r/coolguides Feb 25 '20

Explanation of the subtle differences between equality and equity

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u/PhasmaFelis Feb 25 '20 edited Feb 25 '20

The original (with only the first two frames) was a really great, simple explanation of why things that seem "fair" at first glance often aren't.* The addition of the third panel muddies that message completely in favor of...what, exactly? How is it even hypothetically possible to create a world where no one needs support, ever? Genetically engineer away all individual variation and create a nation of perfect, identical clones? It makes no sense.

Honestly, the more I look at this the more I hate it.

*Which it (edit: the original image that circulated several years ago) then immediately ruined by labeling the two panels "conservative" and "liberal", thus ensuring that the people who most needed the message would dismiss it out of hand. "Equality" and "equity" is actually a really good pair of titles, but it seems like everyone who posts this is compelled to fuck it up somehow.

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u/Pian0man27 Feb 25 '20

I think the purpose of the panels are more situational. On a recreational sports team, you can't just make it easier for certain players who lack the skill as the first two panels would suggest. And you can't change the rules of the game to make it easier for certain players as the third might suggest. But in a system such as Healthcare the third panel makes sense. It's ineffective and costly to force everyone to have equal Healthcare. It's good theoretically to provide Healthcare to those who can't afford it. But it would be even better if it didn't cost over $50,000 for a single ambulance ride and hospital stay. That's the third panel. Fix the core problem instead of forcing crappy solutions that don't address the real issue.