A few years ago I read a book by Joseph Schumpeter. Two of the points I got from the book are were that Capitalism, left unchecked, leads to corporatism, and that the balance of that tendency is some aspects of the economy being “socialized”. A second point was that to an extent, the United States was already a “socialist” country in many aspects of its economy. Our public schools, water, sewer, libraries, electricity are all “socialized”, and to some extent so is our retirement (Social Security) and health care.
Recently, the role of “socialized” public health has become much more important as the Pandemic approaches. I’ve been struck by the tone some of my “libertarian” friends, and wrote this in an attempt to point out the folly of trying to describe our economy as either socialist or capitalist. The divide is a false choice and that’s clearer in the face of a pandemic.
I updated this during the Black Lives Matter Protests. (June 2020) Originally posted March 6, 2020.
…Then I’m a Socialist
If providing free vaccines to children (regardless of status) so my children don’t contract avoidable diseases is socialist, then I want to be a socialist;
If requiring that healthcare workers get sick leave to keep them stay home when ill so my mother in a nursing home doesn’t get their flu is socialist, then call me a socialist;
If coordinating with developing countries (including China and Iran) on pandemic response planning and prevention assistance so deadly diseases don’t debilitate our economy and citizens is socialist, then I am a socialist;
If providing refugees with the healthcare and basic support to prevent pandemic spread without forcing them to abandon their quest for citizenship is socialist, I am a socialist;
If providing minorities the same civil and human rights and basic support my children enjoy makes me part of Black Lives Matter, then count me a civil rights activist.
Because providing sick leave, healthcare, basic support, civil rights and pandemic preparedness is more humane than the alternatives, call me a humanist;
Because providing sick leave, healthcare, basic support, civil rights and pandemic preparedness is more Christian (and Buddhist and Muslim) than the alternatives, call me a Christian (or Buddhist or Muslim);
Because providing sick leave, healthcare, basic support, civil rights and pandemic preparedness is less expensive than the alternatives, call me a pragmatist and fiscal conservative.
Because all these things are objectively, factually true, call me a realist.
Or better yet, let’s not get hung up on labels; let’s just treat everyone humanely, to everyone’s benefit, whatever the label.
When it comes to public health, basic support and civil rights, we live in a global village, and it takes the whole village to keep us all safe, healthy and contributing.
We all benefit when everyone has their basic human needs met.