It was just last month when president Biden signed an executive order that called on all federal agencies to launch a whole of government approach to Equity
Federal agencies are now required to designate leaders to implement equity mandates and release yearly action plans to the public.
The order even gives agencies AI instructions. [ i] When designing, developing, acquiring, and using artificial intelligence and automated systems in the federal government, agencies shall do so, consistent with applicable law, in a manner that advances equity. [[/i]
But what does Equity mean?
Bill Maher asked American Bernie Sanders.
(Prepare to laugh)
Maher made the point that equality and equity mean two different things and asked Sanders how he would differentiate between equity and equality
I do not know what the answer to that is.
I think that, you know, equality is equality of opportunity. All right?
Maher then says
Equity I think is more a guarantee of outcome, is it not?
which Sanders says,
I think so?
So, which side do you come down on? Maher asks.
Uh, Equality, said Sanders.
[/i]Maybe Sanders should be applauded for his ludicrous response.
After all he is right, for a change.
No, he is not. Neither Maher (no surprise, he is an idiot), you (also no surprise, to the extent you are not an idiot you are an intellectually dishonest PROVEN LIAR who would deliberately misstate matters for your own Comically Transparent Partisan purposes) or Sanders appears to understand the difference. Equity is not a guarantee of outcome, but a tool to allow for equality to be truly available for all.
The example I always give is from The Two Towers. Remember the scene on the battlements at Helm's Deep, where Legolas and Gimli are standing, while the army of Uruk Hai approach? Legolas, being tall (even taller in Tolkien, but Jackson made him the same height as the Rohirim) could could see over the battlements, but Gimli, a dwarf could not. That is equality: both had an equal opportunity to look, but Gimli, being too short, could not make use of that equality.
As Gimli jumps up and down, trying to see, Legolas looks at him and asks, "should I describe it to you, or would you like me to fetch you a box?" Equity is that box: not an equal outcome, but a tool that allows for an equal competition, and understanding that some people face barriers that impact the ability to truly be equal. Gimli had height as his barrier, but there are societal and cultural barriers as well. Equity does not guarantee outcome but rather seeks to find away for outcomes to be based on equal talent and not unequal opportunity.
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