Justice for all means nothing  

We have the impression that justice favors the wealthy. Individuals in positions of authority and influence are favored. Those who do not have much often become victims of injustice. Why is this the case? Why is it that the mainstream or social media constantly depicts this? Or are the extreme opposites or the in-between being overlooked?

We often hear that when it comes to the affluent and poor, the rich get preferential treatment and can always get around regulations and guidelines, whereas the poor are unable to receive such treatment.

Nevertheless, every life is valued equally because it is a human life. A man's life is as worthy of respect and protection as any other, regardless of how young, elderly, feeble, or poor he is. Nobody should be denied the right to live a free life and contribute to society.

Our equal worth as human beings, however, does not imply that we must be treated similarly in all ways and in all circumstances. We don't have to expect to have similar abilities, and society doesn't have to provide us with equal living conditions.

Take, for example, an elementary school class. It would be absurd and unjust to demand that the teacher and a third-grade student have equal voice in every decision made in the classroom, including who gets to decide on classroom rules, curriculum, and homework assignments. It would also be incorrect to demand that every student earns the same grade, regardless of talent, effort, or achievement. However, if a field trip bus accident resulted in the teacher and children being taken to a local hospital, they would all have an equal right to life-saving care as human beings with equal value.

When we say that all men are equal, we don't imply that their virtues, abilities, dispositions, or possessions are all equal. In all of these respects, people are extremely unequal, which is reasonable given society's lofty ideals. Prior to the establishment of civil government, there is one component of society in which all men are equal. Everyone is treated equally in terms of rights and obligations. Natural obligations apply to everyone.

When it comes to basic human dignity and worth, our standing before God and the law, as well as the value of individual lives, we must treat everyone equally. In most other situations, however, justice necessitates treating people differently.

We are all equal before God and members of God's family, yet greed and selfishness have robbed others of their equality.

A wealthy family can provide many benefits that a poor family cannot, such as better food and shelter, better healthcare, cleaner communities, economic stability, and lower exposure to crime. Advancement opportunities, such as going to college or getting a high-paying career, are akin to a Monopoly throw of the dice. Yes, we must work hard in college and perform well if we want to obtain a solid job, but these chances are out of reach for the poor.

When someone can't afford an attorney and the one who is provided for free is more interested in plea bargains than justice, which includes jail time, justice for all means nothing. And for as long as this continues, we will continue to live in a reality where inequality materializes our elite class, vulgarizes our middle class, and brutalizes our lower class.