The law must treat everyone equally. Judges must administer justice impartially, without regard to a person’s wealth, social status, ethnicity, religion, or political beliefs. At the same time, society has a moral obligation to support vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities, the elderly, and those living in poverty. However, such support must be provided wisely and in a balanced manner.
Most citizens do not fully understand the long-term consequences of public policies. Instead, they tend to focus on the immediate benefits they receive. This creates a temptation for politicians to promise generous benefits in exchange for votes, even when those promises are economically unsustainable.
A striking example occurred recently in Turkey. In an effort to win an election, the previous government reversed the retirement reform and reinstated the old retirement rules, even though they no longer reflected the country’s demographic and economic realities. As a result, approximately 1.5 million people became eligible to retire at around the age of 45. It was evident that such a system could not remain financially sustainable for long. Inflation gradually eroded the value of pensions, and today many retirees—and often their families as well—struggle to make ends meet.
Compassion is an admirable virtue, but when it ignores economic reality, it may ultimately harm the very people it intends to help.
