Big Fish in a Big Clean Pond

In the Geography of Bliss, Eric Weiner talked about a culture's decision to value individuals or the community. Be a big fish in a small dirty pond or a small fish in a clean big pond. I think that people should be encouraged and have the opportunity to pursue their dreams and goals. Aspire and work towards being a big fish! If you have worked hard for something, you should be able to reap the rewards. This inherently creates inequality. Further, very often initiatives to put everyone at equal footing results in shifting everyone into the lowest common denominator. In some places, universal health care means universally bad health care. Or, everyone eats but everyone eats really bad food (totally unacceptable to me).

One's success should not be at the expense of others and part of the rewards earned (or achieved through lucky circumstances) should be used to give back in terms of creating an environment where others could grow and thrive. The old teaching people how to fish instead of giving them fish. Eric Weiner talks about happiness coming from being able to trust others and having strong relationships. Clean pond instead of dirty pond.

I had mostly gotten comfortable with the concept of small fish in a big clean pond but wouldn't it be better to be a big fish - a big fish that fights for the small fishes, helps the small fishes get big and brings everyone together to have a nice clean pond?