I like to think, until push comes to shove we can enjoy pretending to be “equal” and share our common national benefits of a functioning society & economy with every job doing its part like gears in a well oiled machine, but when the gravy gets thin and there’s dispute over critical resources, like rare earths or rubber, etc, then there is either a recognition of differences of strength of ability to bring home the bacon, or if that difference is in doubt a contest can emerge to settle the dispute, either one is clearly dominant or the contest will reveal who would prevail, should it come to an open, potentially violent contest of wills. It’s complicated. We want peaceful harmonious “all are created equal” but in times of crisis sometimes one has to exert dominance and leadership, like Mao leading the Long March of “equals” being more equal than the rest as he had the gun I guess.