THE OTHER SIDE OF SANDEL’S COIN
In contemporary society, money can buy almost anything from access to an express line of an amusement park to a permanent residence in the United States. In his discussion of selective examples, Sandel argues that putting a price tag everything creates inequality based on income, and morally corrupts their inherent value. However, this theory fails to take into account the inequality that is already present in our world and instead romanticizes the definition of morality in his provincial ideology. If people continue to hold Sandel’s dogmatic view, our market economy that has led to huge prosperity would come to a halt and widen the social disparity that already exists in our society. Market economy has encouraged …show more content…
In his passage, “Ticket Scalping Doctor Appointment”, Sandel explains the inequality that jumping the queue for medical care creates. He argues that skipping line by paying the ticket scalpers is unfair because it discriminates against those who are too poor to afford tickets from scalpers and corrupts the innate value of access to medical care (Sandel 25-7). While it is true that ticket scalping does create discrimination, Sandel has failed to consider other causes of this disparity. Market economy in the ticket line business does not add on to the inequality that has already existed in the ticket business. It merely replaces other form of inequality. Even before the issue of ticket scalping, people were discriminated in line standing business. Most of the people who were early in the line most likely lived near that area or had too much free time. As a result, those who lived farther from the line or did not have ample free time were discriminated, as they could not make it to the line early. However, as the ticket scalping business grew, the scenario did not change. The only thing that has changed is the kind of discrimination that occurs. Essentially, discrimination based on distance and free times has been supplanted by discrimination based on money. Another argument that Sandel provides against the market economy in ticket scalping problem is the issue of morality. However, morality is an opinion-based concept and differs from person to person. Even then, majority of the people, regardless of his/her moral point of view, would agree that everyone should be allowed to trade whatever he/she pleases, as long as he/she does not violate anyone’s right. However, if we listen to Sandel’s opinion, this right of freedom to trade would be in danger. Sandel wants to control the way people exercise their rights and wants to limit
In contemporary society, money can buy almost anything from access to an express line of an amusement park to a permanent residence in the United States. In his discussion of selective examples, Sandel argues that putting a price tag everything creates inequality based on income, and morally corrupts their inherent value. However, this theory fails to take into account the inequality that is already present in our world and instead romanticizes the definition of morality in his provincial ideology. If people continue to hold Sandel’s dogmatic view, our market economy that has led to huge prosperity would come to a halt and widen the social disparity that already exists in our society. Market economy has encouraged …show more content…
In his passage, “Ticket Scalping Doctor Appointment”, Sandel explains the inequality that jumping the queue for medical care creates. He argues that skipping line by paying the ticket scalpers is unfair because it discriminates against those who are too poor to afford tickets from scalpers and corrupts the innate value of access to medical care (Sandel 25-7). While it is true that ticket scalping does create discrimination, Sandel has failed to consider other causes of this disparity. Market economy in the ticket line business does not add on to the inequality that has already existed in the ticket business. It merely replaces other form of inequality. Even before the issue of ticket scalping, people were discriminated in line standing business. Most of the people who were early in the line most likely lived near that area or had too much free time. As a result, those who lived farther from the line or did not have ample free time were discriminated, as they could not make it to the line early. However, as the ticket scalping business grew, the scenario did not change. The only thing that has changed is the kind of discrimination that occurs. Essentially, discrimination based on distance and free times has been supplanted by discrimination based on money. Another argument that Sandel provides against the market economy in ticket scalping problem is the issue of morality. However, morality is an opinion-based concept and differs from person to person. Even then, majority of the people, regardless of his/her moral point of view, would agree that everyone should be allowed to trade whatever he/she pleases, as long as he/she does not violate anyone’s right. However, if we listen to Sandel’s opinion, this right of freedom to trade would be in danger. Sandel wants to control the way people exercise their rights and wants to limit