In every society, there are rules and regulations that are presented because they are necessary for the society to function. This is accepted as the norm in many places because of the efficiency and control it provides to authority figures. The theory that John Rawls presents as his "original position" is that the rules enshrined in a societal contract should be impartial among all. This seems like a reasonable idea, but when it comes to maintaining complete impartiality, most people find it difficult to put all personal questions and feelings aside. To combat this prejudice, Rawls introduces the "veil of ignorance" into his position and believes that this would hypothetically create a decent and just world. The veil he describes creates an unbiased opinion due to the fact that the rules would be made by people who did not know their future opinions or lifestyle. They would have no knowledge of who they would become politically, economically, or in any other way, but would have common knowledge on which to base their decisions. There are two main elements to support the theory of following just rules; they have equal rights, and if there is to be inequality, then it must benefit the people, especially the poor. In a society like the United States, there seems to be a “survival of the fittest” mentality. That being said, the society America has been created into is not a society of justice, but a society of personal gain. The general theme that John Rawls presents as the "original position" is a contract that would be signed voluntarily by all, something that an entire population could agree to. The goal is to create as fair a society as possible through rules and the middle of paper......lucky to have the ideal impartiality to create such a society. There is corruption in the legal system and socio-economic differences that set people apart and create tension when trying to become a cooperative society. Having a fair system does not require everyone to be the same. It requires everyone to contribute to the goals of society in one way or another; whether due to identity of interest or conflict of interest. Being a just society is something America will never achieve; greed and success are at the forefront of the American dream. These priorities replace equality and justice. Being a just civilization is too good to be true for people who focus on what they want before what others need. Works Cited Rawls, John. A theory of justice. Ed. revised. Cambridge: Belknap Press from Havard Press, 1999. Print.