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The Endless Quest for Social Equality

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By popular demand (with some listeners anyway), this episode features another lecture from Steve Hayward's periodic series for the William F. Buckley Program at Yale, this time on the topic of "The Endless Quest for Social Equality." This talk ranges widely from the contentions over income inequality that Thomas Piketty's book ignited into the current bonfire of Bernie Sanders's socialist vanity, to the curious findings of social science on other aspects of equality, especially as it bears on the sensitive subject of racism. Finally, Steve examines the role of envy in stoking the current politics of inequality. Envy, once considered one of the seven deadly sins, is not much studied by social scientists for some reason (wonder what that reason could be?), but there is some useful scholarly literature on the issue, and Steve reviews the highlights for us.

Closeout bumper music this week is a live performance of "Burden's Blooming" from Twiddle.

Host:
Steve Hayward

Discussion (6)

  • Taras@Taras

    T-Fiks (View Comment):

    I may have missed it, but could you give a citation for the study which showed that ideological liberals were more likely to talk down to lower-status people?

    You may mean the study in which liberal politicians are shown to dumb down their language when they talk to black audiences – while conservatives don’t.

    Steve: Outstanding podcast!

    I am going to listen to it again, and take notes this time.

  • Jdetente

    A great lecture, as always. Envy is truly the deadliest of sins...and we live in the age of envy. Thank you social media and eroding values!

  • T-Fiks@TFiks

    T-Fiks (View Comment):

    I may have missed it, but could you give a citation for the study which showed that ideological liberals were more likely to talk down to lower-status people?

    Steven Hayward (View Comment):

    See this item for explanation and citations: https://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2018/11/liberal-racism-in-action.php

    Thanks, I was hoping you'd respond. Yours was probably the best podcast I've heard in a long time.

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