We hear lots of talk from politicians and various organizations about improving the quality of life. But the quality of life advocates never define what they mean by the term. They assume that we all know, and agree to, its meaning.
More than 25 million people live in Texas. Some prefer the ballet over baseball. Some prefer to live in the country while others relish living in one of the state’s major cities. Some Texans like to dine out and others like to grill on the patio. Some like shopping malls and others spend their time in parks. In short, Texans have a wide range of values, desires, and interests. Texans define quality of life very differently.
To claim that one view of quality of life applies to the entire city is to treat all Texans as a single entity. It implies that we do not exist as individuals, but as a part of a collective known as Texas. It implies that there is some standard that applies to the group as a whole, while ignoring the diverse differences among the individuals comprising that group.
In truth, quality of life is a personal judgment, based on each individual’s values, desires, and interests.
Quality of life advocates invariably seek to impose their standard upon all Texans.
If we are to have a meaningful discussion about quality of life, then we must reject the notion that the collective, such as the city, the community, or the neighborhood, is more important than individuals. Instead, we must discuss those policies and principles which protect the freedom of each individual to pursue his vision of quality of life.
Each individual has a moral right to define quality of life in his own terms. And he also has a moral right to pursue the values, desires, and interests that he chooses, so long as he respects the rights of others. Nobody—including government—has a legitimate right to impose their view of quality of life on others.