Rawls contends that in order for distributive justice to work social and economic process must exist under suitable political and economic institutions. He calls for the establishment of four background institutions or branches, in the government to ensure equity of justice. The allocation branch ensures that the pricing system is competitive and that no individual or corporation forms unreasonable market power. The stabilization branch endeavors to bring about reasonably full employment opportunities for those that want to work. The transfer branch guarantees a certain level of well-being. Finally, the distribution branch strives to preserve an approximate justice in distributive shares by means of taxation and the necessary adjustments in the rights of property (Rawls).
Discussion
People in a state of poverty, whether it is temporal or generational, are already in a difficult position. Often their living situations are tenuous at best, and a sick child or a brief lay-off could easily initiate dire consequences. Libertarians wish to repeal the welfare programs that subsidize these families and individuals. The argument for this repeal is framed around two claims, the first is that such a redistribution of wealth infringes on the liberty of those being taxed, and second the poor will actually be better off if welfare were abolished (Loo).
Let's address the second claim first. The implication of calling for the repeal of welfare is that those taken off welfare will now find jobs to support themselves. In reality most welfare recipients have limited skills and substandard education; many do not even have high school diplomas or GEDs. The immediate...
As most of these workers are unskilled, minimally skilled, or lack the proper education and training for better jobs, a massive increase of comparatively low-skilled laborers will enter into the market. There are not enough of these jobs in today's economy to support this influx (Loo).
As for the argument that welfare is a compulsory tax equivalent to forced labor, many of the people who espouse this argument have advantages based on social circumstances, financial position or authority. It is only natural that they would want to protect their position.
Conclusion
If we truly wish to have a just society it is imperative that society's moral obligation to be just in the distribution of opportunity be fulfilled. The libertarian political ideology fails to recognize any obligation society might have to its less fortunate members.
Works Cited
James, Louis. "Libertarian Party on Welfare & Poverty." On the Issues. Source LP News. 1 April 1999. 13 Fedruary 2011.
Loo, Dennis. "Libertarianism and Poverty." The Ethical Spectacle. April 2003. 13 Fedruary 2011.
Piccard, Dick. "A Theory of Justice, by John Rawls." Ohio.edu. 4 April 2005. 13 Fedruary 2011.
Rawls, John. "An Egalitarian Theory of Justice." A Theory of Justice. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1971.
Ruwart, Mary "How Would Libertarians Help the Homelesss?" Libertarianism. 20 September 2010. 13 Fedruary 2011.
