Jefferson’s Bounded Inequalities Box

What is the opposite of slavery?

Most of people, when first confronted with this question, answer instinctively: “freedom.” History has taught us that freedom is the removal of chains—literal or figurative—that bind a person’s choices and movements. But if we really think about the question, we come to a different conclusion: the opposite of slavery isn’t freedom; it’s equality. When people have equal power, they are not vulnerable to exploitation by those with more.

This is the profound truth poetically captured in one of history’s most enduring lines: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” In that single sentence, Jefferson addressed one of humanity’s oldest and most fundamental political dilemmas: How can we ensure that all people have the freedom and power to pursue their own happiness? His answer: by respecting equality and protecting the rights that sustain it.

Jefferson’s formulation was not tied to any particular social, political, or economic doctrine. For him and those who co-signed the Declaration, the importance of equality was self-evident. They insisted on equality, knowing that freedom alone cannot balance the scales of justice. To create and maintain a society where every individual has true self-determination, we must constrain the social, political, and economic inequalities that emerge over time. Jefferson identified the point of perfect equality and then drew a box of “unalienable rights” around that point.

The Risks of Freedom Without Equality

Without constraints, one person’s freedom can become another’s misfortune. Freedom—understood as the power of autonomy—is a rivalrous good. I am free to eat at my favorite restaurant because the cook is not free to leave the hot kitchen. When we prioritize unrestricted freedom over equality, we promote injustices.

This concept can be difficult to accept because we often view freedom as the ultimate goal, with equality relegated to a secondary, “nice-to-have” status. But Jefferson’s insight was precisely that without equality, liberty cannot foster a society in which each individual is free to determine their own path. While slavery in its overt forms may be abolished, people still find themselves at the mercy of power structures that restrict or even strip them of their rights to fair treatment, representation, and opportunity— even today, in the U.S. and around the world.

In societies without constraints on inequality, those in positions of political and economic power wield disproportionate influence, shaping major aspects of everyone’s lives. Freedom without equality means that some people are “more free” than others and while some inequality is natural, when “freedom elites” acquire enough power to ignore the rights of others, the balance becomes intolerable and ultimately unsustainable. Without equality, freedom becomes a privilege—and privilege becomes oppressive.

Equality in the Real World: The Boundaries That Uphold Decency

Perfect equality is unattainable (and even undesirable), but Jefferson recognized we can—and must—establish limits to protect individual autonomy. These boundaries ensure a balanced distribution of power, preventing any person or group from exerting too much control over others. By limiting power, equality becomes a practical tool for balancing freedom in all its forms.

Equality, then, safeguards:

• Political Freedom: True democracy relies on equal representation and participation. When power is concentrated in the hands of a few, democracy—and the freedom of those without representation—weakens.
• Economic Freedom: Economic equality ensures that opportunities aren’t limited to the few. Without economic balance, freedom in career and livelihood remains confined to those with wealth.
• Social Freedom: Social structures that respect equality grant individuals the freedom to express their identities without fear of marginalization.
• Cultural Freedom: Cultural equality fosters an environment where diverse perspectives and heritages are respected, enhancing each person’s freedom to connect with and express their identity.

Without broad equality in these areas, freedom remains incomplete and imbalanced.

Power Dynamics and the Need for Balanced Relationships

Human relationships—whether personal, professional, or societal—are built on power dynamics, sometimes subtle, sometimes overt. In the absence of equality, these dynamics become imbalanced, enabling a few to exert disproportionate influence over many. A society founded on equality does not imply identical power for everyone but rather ensures that everyone’s basic rights and freedoms are protected, fostering fair participation.

Consider common settings where equality supports freedom:

• Workplaces: Fair organizational structures prevent any single leader from wielding unchecked authority over employees, creating a culture of mutual respect where every person’s freedom to grow and contribute is protected.
• Communities: In communities where every member has a voice, local resources and policies reflect the needs of all residents, ensuring no group is excluded from shared benefits.
• Governments: Democracies founded on equality distribute power across institutions and officials, avoiding power concentration and thus ensuring citizens’ freedom to influence their government.

In each case, equality is not a limitation on freedom but a structure that preserves it.

Equality: The Surest Path to a Truly Free Society

Equality is not an abstract ideal, but a practical necessity for maximizing freedom. It establishes limits on power and ensures that no one is relegated to the role of “slave” or elevated to the status of “master.”

Too often political discussions pit freedom against equality. But these concepts are not adversaries. They are allies. True freedom cannot be sustained without equality. Freedom without equality is a fragile thing prone to abuse that shifts under changing circumstances. But freedom built on the foundation of equality is a robust, enduring shared commitment to the idea that every person should have the power to decide for themselves even as our ?politics and economy change.