How might Equity Moonshot become the antidote for solving our complex web of self-inflicted wicked problems in the 21st century, such as corrupt power, systemic isms and escalating inequities?
In capitalism, money creates opportunity / access to all things. Outcomes are then a result of opportunity / access plus decisions and effort but access is fundamental (foundational) to effort or decisions having any impact at all. These are also different depending on the context. In healthcare, its mostly about money but race matters too. I just read that black women statistically have worse healthcare outcomes in this country no matter their finances or healthcare policy. In housing, equal opportunity / access again comes down to money. We don't have sufficient housing for poor people, period. But they have equal opportunity... they just need a bunch of money. In education, again, opportunity to attend a neighborhood public school or community college is not equal to Harvard. But redlining is a real thing and in some places black people cannot get a loan, no matter their situation. In Finland private schools are illegal to ensure all schools are equally good and that kids of all stripes are socialized together. (The rich are not isolated from everyone else behind gated communities and private schools). Access to bad food is not equal to access to good food. I think the answer is that policy needs to be fine tuned to achieve targeted equity outcomes, while opportunity is the mechanim to.support that. So for example, if a person can't afford a place to live society should ensure that a basic place to live is is provided to them (access). There need to be basic outcomes to live that are guaranteed by society. You are not guaranteed a mansion by the sea (great outcome), you are guaranteed a place to live that provides all the basic requirements to survive (a minimally acceptable outcome). To fail in that concept, in my view, is to fail in equity completely. The challenge is to determine what is a minimally acceptable outcome that society will guarantee. It must be a guarantee, like social security. We are talking about a basic social contract. Today, there is no social contract anymore. It has been ripped up and used for toilet paper by the elites and politicians. Also, geography matters. Locating public or low income housing near power lines, freeways, factories, dumps and chemicals is not equitable even if its completely free.
In capitalism, money creates opportunity / access to all things. Outcomes are then a result of opportunity / access plus decisions and effort but access is fundamental (foundational) to effort or decisions having any impact at all. These are also different depending on the context. In healthcare, its mostly about money but race matters too. I just read that black women statistically have worse healthcare outcomes in this country no matter their finances or healthcare policy. In housing, equal opportunity / access again comes down to money. We don't have sufficient housing for poor people, period. But they have equal opportunity... they just need a bunch of money. In education, again, opportunity to attend a neighborhood public school or community college is not equal to Harvard. But redlining is a real thing and in some places black people cannot get a loan, no matter their situation. In Finland private schools are illegal to ensure all schools are equally good and that kids of all stripes are socialized together. (The rich are not isolated from everyone else behind gated communities and private schools). Access to bad food is not equal to access to good food. I think the answer is that policy needs to be fine tuned to achieve targeted equity outcomes, while opportunity is the mechanim to.support that. So for example, if a person can't afford a place to live society should ensure that a basic place to live is is provided to them (access). There need to be basic outcomes to live that are guaranteed by society. You are not guaranteed a mansion by the sea (great outcome), you are guaranteed a place to live that provides all the basic requirements to survive (a minimally acceptable outcome). To fail in that concept, in my view, is to fail in equity completely. The challenge is to determine what is a minimally acceptable outcome that society will guarantee. It must be a guarantee, like social security. We are talking about a basic social contract. Today, there is no social contract anymore. It has been ripped up and used for toilet paper by the elites and politicians. Also, geography matters. Locating public or low income housing near power lines, freeways, factories, dumps and chemicals is not equitable even if its completely free.