This article was originally published in Real Clear Politics.
The American Dream was built on a promise of equality – a promise of equality in terms of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. During the 2024 election, Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are both working overtime to say why Republicans or Democrats are better on the equality issue.
But what kind of equality? Harris is known for promoting “equity,” while Trump is quick to invoke the American Dream but slower to define it. And so, voters are left wondering.
Many of the policies uttered on the campaign trail are focused on equalizing outcomes – or, at the very least, equalizing starting points. To use a Harris quote, “Equitable treatment means we all end up at the same place.” She also proposes an opportunity agenda, promising to crack down on price gouging, raise the minimum wage, provide $25,000 in down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, and increase the child tax credit, among other proposals. Pushback has been swift among economists and policy researchers, who cite the unintended consequences of price controls and other forms of government overreach.
Meanwhile, Trump insists on continuing his tariff policy and expanding the child tax credit. Cue similar pushback: In his case, the vast majority of economists and other experts agree about the negative impact of tariffs on economic growth.
