A Time For Fairness?
Many, probably most, progressives preach “fairness,” at every turn. Well, this once liberal, turned conservative, believes that fairness needs another perspective.
Consider these two scenarios. First, a commercial airline company strands hundreds of passengers on a tarmac during a severe winter storm. Unable to deplane, conditions on the plane become “deplorable.” Thanks to legislative authority, the Federal government now gets to levy onerous fines on the airline, most of which spill into Federal coffers (not into the pocketbooks of the “victims”).
Now, the Transportation Security Administration (affectedly known as TSA) strands many planeloads of passengers on long security lines at Chicago’s O’Hare Airport. People miss flights; the airlines lose money; disruption ensues. TSA’s answer…”We’re sorry (for the inconvenience).”
Does this disparity in outcomes smack of “fairness” to you?
We can add IRS delays in processing NFP applications, the VA’s cavalier attitude with delays in providing medical attention; and a growing list of governmental lies, cover-ups and inappropriate spending, and it is clear that some “fairness” needs to be put back into play for all. In short, “what’s good for the goose is good for the gander” (or is that some type of equal rights quotation?).
The government needs to be as accountable as the businesses and individuals it wants to rule. This means if fines are to be levied on airlines for creating intolerable situations and on BP for creating an oil spill, there should be a consummate fine levied on the government when it errs. That money (and also a larger share of the tarmac-rule penalty) should go to the “victims” of government-created or government-labeled “crimes.”
If the government wants to collect millions, it should be prepared to pay out millions. How about if that starts happening NOW?
Originally published 5/30/16