Keith Burgess-Jackson, J.D., Ph.D.

Here is an interesting column by Janet Daley. I have a theory. People who are born into affluence feel guilty about it, and this leads them to egalitarianism (though not to giving up their "undeserved" wealth). John Rawls (author of A Theory of Justice [1971]) is a perfect example, as is Barack Obama. People who have humble beginnings have nothing to feel guilty about, so they develop normally and value individual liberty, personal responsibility, self-sufficiency, and equal opportunity. In other words, progressivism stems from guilt (specifically, the desire to alleviate same). What do you think?