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I don't agree that we are born with the same potential. Surely you're not suggesting that someone born mentally or physically retarded has the same potential as someone who is not? There's a reason the special olympic entrants don't compete with the regular olympic entrants; they would get slaughtered.
I don't think it's all genetics of course, many people are born with similar gene structures but because of environmental factors turn out differently. The greatest environmental factor though, is wealth. Wealthy people will, on average, grow up healthier, smarter, and more powerful than the poor. Certainly there are exceptions where a poor person becomes part of the Man, and where the Man kicks out a few members, but these are almost certainly exceptions.
Does anybody have any reliable facts or figures on what percentage of people end up with a similar income level as their parents? I'll bet that most people eventually wind up earning a little bit more than their parents did (adjusted for inflation of course).
I think what should be mean by all people are equal is that they are all equally held to the same law or level of responsibility. It's actually incorrect then to say that all people are equal, it should be the level of responsibility is equal for everyone.
Of course, that's not the case; the rich are often held to a less stringent standard than the poor, but at least it's a goal for which society could aim. Trying to make everyone equal at birth (through genetic engineering) and through childhood (through complete child education centers) would make for a pretty dull and lame place to live, as well as being extraordinarily difficult and expensive.
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You know something, I don't think the sun even... exists... in this place. 'Cause I've been up for hours, and hours, and hours, and the night never ends here.
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