Question

Obama and the Veil of Ignorance

In your 150 word post, choose an idea/argument from President Obama's "Remarks by the President on Economic Mobility" and discuss whether this idea/argument would be acceptable from behind Rawls's veil of ignorance.

Answer 1

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Question:

Answer:

Rawls's veil of ignorance-

Philosopher John Rawls suggests that we should imagine we sit behind a veil of ignorance that keeps us from knowing who we are and identifying with our personal circumstances. By being ignorant of our circumstances, we can more objectively consider how societies should operate.Two primary principles supplement Rawls’ veil of ignorance: the liberty principle and the difference principle.

According to the liberty principle, the social contract should try to ensure that everyone enjoys the maximum liberty possible without intruding upon the freedom of others and according to the difference principle, the social contract should guarantee that everyone an equal opportunity to prosper. In other words, if there are any social or economic differences in the social contract, they should help those who are the worst off. And, any advantages in the contract should be available to everyone.

Idea/argument from President Obama's "Remarks by the President on Economic Mobility:

Barack Obama is an American politician and attorney who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Barack Obama was the first African-American president of the United States.

Barak Obama accepting the combined trends of increased inequality and decreasing mobility pose a fundamental threat to the American Dream, our way of life, and what we stand for around the globe. And it is not simply a moral claim that I’m making here. There are practical consequences to rising inequality and reduced mobility. (here i will explain about the mobility-Economic mobility is the ability of an individual, family or some other group to improve their economic status usually measured in income. Economic mobility is often measured by movement between income quintiles). Obama tell that these trends are bad for our economy. One study finds that growth is more fragile and recessions are more frequent in countries with greater inequality. So many children are born into poverty in the wealthiest nation on Earth is heartbreaking enough. The top 10 percent consistently took home about one-third of our national income. But that kind of inequality took place in a dynamic market economy where everyone’s wages and incomes were growing. And because of upward mobility, the guy on the factory floor could picture his kid running the company some day.Now, the premise that we’re all created equal is the opening line in the American story. And while we don’t promise equal outcomes, we have strived to deliver equal opportunity -- the idea that success doesn’t depend on being born into wealth or privilege, it depends on effort and merit. And with every chapter we’ve added to that story, we’ve worked hard to put those words into practice.   

Conclusion:

So, Obama told that we can not fulfill the vision of a great America until we achieve the liberty principle and difference principle. It means it is vital to control the increased inequality and decreasing mobility because we’re all created equal is the opening line in the American story. And while we don’t promise equal outcomes, we have strived to deliver equal opportunity -- the idea that success doesn’t depend on being born into wealth or privilege, it depends on effort and merit. Every one should have to liberty to choose their live in respect of education, work, earning etc. So, Obama support the liberty principle

He also tells that government should spending on education health, social security and also fix-up minimum wages to increase the standard of life.He also supporting to reduce taxes so he also support to difference principle.

So, this idea/argument (given by Barak Obama) would be acceptable from behind Rawls's veil of ignorance.

Thank You