[zackmorris]

This is a red herring that I see a lot, especially in online discussions. Progressives (like myself) aren't "equalizing the unequal" as you put it. You're conflating our goals with those of socialists and communists from 100 years ago who were coopted by authoritarian dictatorships.

We're working to remove barriers that create inequality, such as discrimination by gender/race/creed etc. And I don't buy crocodile tears for the (generally white/male/older) people currently propped up by the status quo.

I do share your concern, however, that any policy can have ulterior motives. I see that more coming from knee-jerk and nanny state policies crafted by the far right today (that used to supposedly be a province of the far left). See: the military industrial complex growth in response to 9/11, the prison industrial complex growth in response to the war on drugs, etc.