What often goes unexamined about liberal values is how they are selectively applied depending on an individual's "wealth and race".

While liberalism champions ideals like individual liberty, equal opportunity, and a "colorblind" society, a critical analysis reveals that these principles have historically been and continue to be unequally distributed, often in ways that benefit the wealthy and maintain racial hierarchies.

This selective application is not a flaw of liberalism, but rather a deeply embedded feature of its history and practice.

The Promise of "Equal Opportunity" vs. Economic Reality

A core tenet of modern liberalism is the idea of equal opportunity, where everyone, regardless of their background, should have the chance to succeed based on merit. However, in practice, this principle is often undermined by a liberal system that benefits the wealthy.

• The Myth of Meritocracy: The concept of a meritocracy—a society where advancement is based on merit—is central to liberal thought. However, wealth and class privilege often provide a significant head start. Wealthy families can afford better schools, private tutoring, and extensive networks that give their children a distinct advantage. While a liberal society may decry inherited titles or aristocratic privilege, it often fails to address the intergenerational transmission of wealth that perpetuates inequality. This creates a system where the "race" is not run on a level playing field, and the winners are often those who were already in the best position to win.

• A "Hand-Up" vs. "Handout" Mentality: Liberalism often supports social safety nets like welfare, food stamps, and housing assistance. Yet, the philosophy frequently frames these as temporary "hand-ups" to help people get back on their feet, rather than as fundamental entitlements. This framing often carries a moral judgment about poverty, suggesting that those in need are not working hard enough. This attitude is rarely applied to the wealthy, who benefit from various forms of government support like tax loopholes, corporate subsidies, and bailouts, which are not stigmatized.

The Paradox of "Colorblindness"

Liberalism's response to racism has often been to promote "colorblindness," the idea that society should ignore race and treat everyone as an individual. While this seems like an egalitarian ideal, critics, particularly those from the Critical Race Theory school of thought, argue that it is a form of "racial liberalism" that actually perpetuates inequality.

• Ignoring Structural Racism: A colorblind approach fails to acknowledge the historical and ongoing impact of systemic racism. It ignores how centuries of slavery, segregation, and discriminatory housing policies have created deep-seated racial disparities in wealth, education, and health. By pretending not to "see" race, a colorblind approach also fails to see the racialized power dynamics that continue to shape society.

• The Selective Application of "Rights": Throughout history, the liberal promise of universal rights has been selectively applied. The U.S., a nation founded on liberal ideals, maintained slavery for nearly a century and enforced racial segregation for another. While abolitionists and civil rights activists were often influenced by liberal ideas of freedom, the dominant liberal political establishment was often slow to act or actively complicit in racial injustice. Critics argue that this demonstrates that the "rights" promised by liberalism are often reserved for those deemed worthy, with race serving as a key determinant.

The Culture Wars and the Role of Liberalism

The selective application of liberal values is also visible in what are often called the "culture wars." Modern liberalism, particularly in its embrace of diversity and social justice issues, is often accused by its critics of being a movement that prioritizes the concerns of a "liberal elite."

• Focus on Identity Over Economics: While modern liberalism has become a strong advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, gender equality, and racial justice, critics argue that this focus on identity politics often comes at the expense of addressing deep-seated economic inequality. This creates a paradox where a movement that claims to represent the interests of the marginalized is often seen as out of touch with the economic struggles of working-class people, many of whom are people of color.

• "Woke Capitalism": A new form of this selective application is "woke capitalism," where corporations publicly embrace liberal social causes—such as celebrating Pride Month or issuing statements in support of Black Lives Matter—while continuing business practices that are often exploitative or damaging to the environment. This allows corporations to appear progressive and win over liberal consumers without fundamentally changing their economic models. The liberal movement often struggles to reconcile its social justice goals with its comfortable relationship with corporate power.

In conclusion, a deeper look at liberalism reveals that its noble principles of liberty and equality have often been selectively applied. The system that promotes equal opportunity is often blind to the profound effects of inherited wealth, and the philosophy that calls for a "colorblind" society often ignores the reality of systemic racism. By failing to consistently apply its core values to all, liberalism exposes a profound hypocrisy that continues to shape modern society.