Equalize, or Decrease?

Right here’s a thought experiment that just lately occurred to me that I’d wish to run by you, pricey EconLog readers. I feel the intuitive reactions one might need to this thought experiment would possibly do loads to make clear how one conceives of justice. 

Suppose you reside in a world the place there’s a navy draft. As well as, let’s stipulate {that a} navy draft is unjust. (In the event you’re in favor of a draft and end up resisting the thought experiment on these grounds, simply substitute the draft for another coverage you’d take into account unjust.) Nevertheless, not each citizen is eligible for the draft. Solely half the inhabitants might be drafted. Let’s say the idea for who’s eligible is one thing utterly arbitrary – those that had been born on even numbered days are eligible to be drafted, whereas those that are born on odd numbered days are exempt from the draft. 

Let’s say that ending the draft is outdoors the Overton window – there isn’t a reasonable probability this coverage might be revoked. Nevertheless, you might be within the distinctive place of with the ability to modify the draft with some form of govt order. You’ll be able to’t repeal it, however you may make it so these born on odd days change into eligible for the draft. Assume nothing else would change for those who did so – so for instance, for those who broaden the draft, assume that twice as many voters will truly get drafted, so no one with a good numbered birthday sees their possibilities of being drafted lowered consequently. 

So right here’s the query – what’s the proper factor to do? 

Ought to the draft be expanded, on the grounds that these born on even days have been handled unfairly by being topic to an unjust coverage that different residents don’t face? That’s, do you have to pull the coverage lever that will increase the quantity of people that face injustice, so as to equalize the distribution of injustice? 

Or do you have to decline to broaden the draft, on the grounds that the coverage is unjust and if injustice can’t be repealed, as few individuals as doable must be topic to it? That’s, do you have to enable an unjust coverage to use unequally to residents, so as to reduce the variety of people who find themselves subjected to injustice? 

What do you suppose?

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