I disagree. First of all because there is no such thing as a perfect place (utopia). There can't be a place where everyone is completely satisfied with their lives. Second of all because, in a world where everyone is equal in every way, there is no room for new inventions (as everyone thinks on the same level, there can't be a person who will be smart enough to come up with something new) and good quality services (as everyone is on the same level, they can't excel at anything and thus will not be able to do their job to their fullest potential). Everything will be on the same level, no black or white, just gray and I doubt that anyone would call that perfect.
Question 2: You are designing a society in which everyone is equal. What are the laws?
I think I'd keep the same laws as there are right now. Everyone has the right to access education and health care, I guess.
Question 3: What would you do to help people who were less capable mentally, physically, or socially to “catch up”?
I think I'll hire psychologists to help people who are less capable mentally and socially. I'd hire inventors to work for the government and create things to help people who are physically disabled. I'd create a safe place for these people to live while they still can't overcome their disabilities.
Question 4: What problems can you foresee that might come in a society with laws that force “equality for all”? How would you handle those problems?
People who are better than what the government believes is average will find the laws unfair and will rebel (such as Harrison Bergeron from the story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut). If I was the government that wants to enforce the "equality for all" law, I'd kill and threaten the people who rebel to shut them up. I might also bring those people to the government so that they'd stop complaining. But I don't agree with this law.
Question 5: Do you believe that total equality is possible, or would human nature make sure that some people would eventually dominate others?
"Life is unfair," Mr. Frank, my teacher once told me, "get used to it." and I agree with his statement. Life itself is unfair, no one is equal and I believe that total equality is impossible. Even in the story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut, where people are handicapped to be equal, it is obvious that the government still has more power and intelligence than the people (they also have more money). People in the government will always have more power and, as we already discussed in class, it is very important and no country can go with out one. As long as there is someone who leads others, it will not be fair (as that person will have more power). So I think that no matter what other people try to do to make the world equal and fair, life will always be unfair (in both bad and good ways) and getting used to it is a good way to deal with it.
Question 6: In what situations have you felt similarly to any of the characters? What persons, places, or ideas from your own experience came to mind while you were reading this story? Try to list as least two examples.
I usually forget why I'm angry or why I'm sad so I kind of resemble Hazel (though I don't forget as fast as she does). At the last page, where George says that Hazel should forget all the bad things, I think it resembles my sister as she always tries to forget or ignore the bad things (she also tries to convince me that I should do that too).
