In the year 2081, the 211th, 212th, and 213th amendments to the Constitution dictate that all Americans are fully equal and not allowed to be smarter, better-looking, or more physically able than anyone else. The Handicapper General's agents enforce the equality laws, forcing citizens to wear "handicaps": masks for those who are too beautiful, loud radios that disrupt thoughts inside the ears of intelligent people, and heavy weights for the strong or athletic.In 2081, those who refuse "handicaps" can be shot by a government equality bureau. Wikipedia describes the plot in some detail, Harrison Bergeron is as bleak as Orwell's 1984, but shorter.
Next time you hear a progressive bemoan inequality, understand he or she wants to dumb us all down to the level that the least of us can achieve. It is excellent that some are beautiful, some are talented, some are athletic, some are saintly and some are smart. Imagine how dreary life would be if all were mediocre nobodies.
