Justice

A sense of fairness and justice in society is essential to its happiness and well-being.

When large segments of the population feel oppressed, like all the incentives of the system are stacked against them and their hopes for a better life, it is impossible for those people be as happy as they would be in a fair and just society.

Equal protection under the law must be rigorously protected in the incentive structures built into every aspect of our judicial, legislative and bureaucratic systems.

Justice must also weigh the healing power of retribution against the redemptive nature of arbitrary punishment and find its incentives lacking. In the happiest countries, forgiveness, redemption and rehabilitation are prioritized over retribution, reducing recidivism. Ironically it is the least religious countries that reflect the values of Jesus in their judicial systems.