Moral Outrage and Passionate Tactics

Why fair? Why this obsession?

Why does it make you anxious

And angry? Why do you care?

Mobile, warm, comfortable,

Dry, and alive, the man jokes

As opening monologue,

And you’d probably admit

Those advantages outrank

Mere fairness in misery,

But unfairness of things burns

From toddlers through to elders,

Even if no one agrees

For very far what fairness

Means. It means you win, your team

Wins, or at least don’t lose worse.

Your ancestors invented

Fairness out of resentment,

Striving to keep not losing,

Out of any social means

To position themselves well.

Don’t be surprised you’re unfair,

And you are, and it’s tactics,

Negotiations, win-win,

That rope fairness to its twin.