The early universe underwent unimaginable expansion as the time/space continuum and all the elemental particles of “stuff” burst into being during the first few moments following the Big Bang. The forces of nature as well as the laws that govern them were instantaneously born. The force of gravity acting on small imperfections in the primeval milieu was a critical factor in forming the universe, as we know it, including the eventual appearance of life on earth. Because the primeval milieu was not totally uniform, initial globs of gas and elemental particles were drawn together from more dense areas of the milieu by gravitational attraction. As this accretion continued, the structure of the universe that we now observe, i.e. stars, galaxies, planetary systems, etc., gradually evolved over millions of years. If those small imperfections were not present in the primeval milieu, every thing would have continued as a homogenous soup of elemental particles. The creation event would have ended in failure with no stars, no galaxies, no planetary systems and no life ever emerging. However, thanks to slight irregularities in the primeval milieu, a universe with a spectacular structure arose. But almost immediately, once formed, every component of the universe has begun to reverse course and is destined to ultimately fulfill the conditions of the third law of thermodynamics. Slow but sure decomposition will ultimately achieve a condition of maximum entropy, i.e., state of lowest energy or complete dispersion of all matter and energy and a universe with no discernable structure. The universe will end up at the same point, a homogenous soup, as if it hadn’t taken that marvelous detour that was born during the first moments after the Big Bang. Like we humans, the universe itself enjoys a life thanks to the non-uniform structure of the primeval milieu.
Neurons
Similar sequences occur in living organisms. Although the time frames are vastly different, living organisms and the universe follow the same paradigm. Neuronal activity is an example of typical processes characteristic of life. Cardiac impulse conduction leading to myocardial contraction and skeletal muscle contraction are other prominent examples. Neuronal activity, as well as most other dynamic life processes, is dependent on irregular distributions of ions across cell membranes. In the resting (polarized) state, sodium ion concentrations are higher outside the cell than inside and the opposite situation holds for potassium ions. When a nerve impulse reaches the neuron, sodium channels open to allow sodium to enter down its concentration gradient while potassium is actively pumped out of the cell. This process of depolarization is then relayed along a chain of neurons forming a nervous pathway. As the impulse passes onward, depolarized cells repolarize preparing them for the next impulse to come along. Many other cellular activities follow this same general pattern. In short, life is critically dependent on an unequal extra-cellular/intra-cellular distribution of ions. Loss of that inequality is characteristic of death. In the case of organic life, as in the case of the life of the entire universe, the third law of thermodynamics rules. Regardless of the size or complexity of organized systems, living or inanimate, all will eventually return to a homogenous elemental milieu. Life has been described by physicists as biochemical systems capable of temporarily maintaining a state of negative entropy. As such, resting ionic imbalances are maintained between intracellular and extracellular compartments via the energy consuming processes of life. The movement of ions back and forth across cell membranes is the basic mechanism of most cell functions such as impulse propagation and contraction. When the biochemical system (i.e. the organism) is no longer capable of maintaining ionic disequilibrium, it dies.
Capitalism
The point illustrated by the above two examples is that, in many diverse situations, the energy responsible for dynamic behavior of a system (i.e. its life) arises from unequal distribution of matter. In the case of the universe it was the imperfect distribution of primeval “stuff” while in the case of the neuron it is unequal distribution of ions across the cellular membrane. However, getting to the subject at hand, what do the above have to do with capitalism or any other socioeconomic system? Socialism and communism fail to appreciate the energy infused into a socioeconomic system by inequality. They disavow capitalism and the inequalities in individual wealth that it yields. Rather they favor a homogeneous socioeconomic system where all members share wealth equally. This result is usually achieved through a variety of forms of income redistribution. On the other hand in a capitalistic society, individuals attain wealth through hard work and creativity. They are able to retain most of what they earn. Great energizing power is infused into such a system by the visible presence of variability in social structure and wealth. Individuals are strongly motivated toward productivity and achievement. Each knows that if he is twice as productive as the next guy, he will reap individual benefits twice as great. Because everything is shared equally under socialism, that form of powerful motivation does not exist. Indeed the socialistic society successfully eliminates inequality but in doing so it reaches a lifeless equilibrium of mediocrity. People become resigned to the mundane, the uninspired, and accept a bland existence simply doing as little as necessary to survive. These thoughts are not speculation. There are numerous examples in today’s world that demonstrate this point. The regressive effects of labor unions on worker productivity, the continued uninspired influence in our schools of poor teachers who are protected by teacher’s unions, The inefficiency of much of the federal bureaucracy populated by civil service employees with protected jobs having built in salary scales based on years of service, the unspectacular history of socialistic nations and the abject failure of communism, e.g. Cuba and North Korea. Communist nations that survive ultimately do so because they move away from socialism and incorporate increasing levels of capitalism that effectively breathes new life into nations heading nowhere. In human society as in the early universe and in neurons, inequalities are necessary to generate the energy required for success and, in fact, to sustain life.
(Addendum: September 3, 2011)
Although the above focuses on the virtue of inequality, I should probably point out that the inequalities that are referred to are inequalities of outcome and should not be confused with inequality of opportunity. Our country has been called the land of opportunity and that means all of our citizens should have the opportunity to become the best that they can be. However, equal outcomes are not and should not be guaranteed. Many factors enter into determining outcomes including individual traits. We are all not equally intelligent, athletically gifted, artistic, musically talented and differ in a multitude of other ways. Some of us are born into wealth while others are born into poverty. Some of us reside in a mild climate while others reside in the frozen tundra of the far north. Thus, the ease or difficulty in achieving specific goals vary greatly from person to person but in a country like ours, we all have the freedom to try. There are countless examples where people with sufficient desire overcame enormous odds to succeed. Thus, while nature and chance place us at different starting points for various goals, we all have the opportunity to become the best that we can be. I'll never play golf at a professional level, but with hard work and desire, I could reach my personal peak given my age and limited athletic ability. I'll never be able to sing like Frank Sinatra or compose music like Bach because of little or no music talent not due to lack of opportunity. Successes that we do achieve in life are usually achieved through sufficient desire, effort, hard work and determination. Outcomes are vastly different and unequal. Some achieve great success while others realize more limited gains but, examples of those at the top of their chosen fields like Warren Buffet, Lance Armstrong and Bill Gates provide an incentive for us all to shoot for our own ultimate objective.
