Fair Is Fair

January 26 the New York Times published an article Fair Is Fair

Most of the people are sloughing over the point which Fish made that fairness and equality of outcome is not the same thing. It is true that some inequality of outcome arises from a lack of fairness. But it is surely not the case that all inequality of outcome arises from a lack of fairness.

Romney should not be paying such a low rate of income tax. But to say that he should not have inherited money from his father is going too far. Perhaps estate taxes should be substantial. But unless they are at 100%, it will still remain the case that the children of the rich will start out with an advantage.
Suppose Jill is rich because she inherited from her father Jack. But suppose also that Jack made his money through hard work and intelligence and part of his motive was that his daughter should have a good start in life. If we deny Jill the rewards of her father's hard work, then in a way we are denying him the rewards of his own hard work, if love of his daughter was a reason why he worked hard in the first place.
Also most people do not realize is that most of the money in large estates is investment income. No income tax, cap gains tax, no tax at all has ever been paid on this money. If it were not for estate tax, this money would pass to the heirs without any tax ever being paid.

Equality and freedom have often been trumpeted as the key words in the lexicon of liberal democracy. But I think fairness does not imply an enforced equality. And a minimal standard enforced for all would be compatible with fairness. So, I agree with it.