The use of terms like Marxism in the critique of DEI initiatives often reflects a deeper concern about efforts to redistribute outcomes rather than opportunities. Equity should be about ensuring that all individuals have the freedom and opportunity to succeed, not guaranteeing equal outcomes for everyone regardless of effort, merit, or circumstance. This distinction is crucial because it speaks to the heart of liberal values: individual responsibility, meritocracy, and the minimal role of the state in dictating personal or organizational values and policies.