I've been thinking about this a lot lately because I have a friend who always discusses equality when we talk about taxes. What makes numbers so equal in the minds of humans? Especially when it comes to fines, taxes, etc.? If we still punished people by cutting off their hands (THANKFULLY WE DON'T - but humor me) would be equal to just cut off any part of the arm longer than 24 inches? No, effect was what made it equal, cut off the hands so you can't use them anymore. The example is gruesome but makes it pleasantly obvious that raw numbers are only equal if we all make the same amount of money and have the same costs in our lives. Since we don't I don't think there is anything equal about fixed amounts of money.