All over the developed world, nations are coming to terms with the fact that the social-democratic welfare state is turning out to be untenable. The reason is partly institutional: The administrative state is dismally inefficient and unresponsive, and therefore ill-suited to our age of endless choice and variety. The reason is also partly cultural and moral: The attempt to rescue the citizen from the burdens of responsibility has undermined the family, self-reliance, and self-government. But, in practice, it is above all fiscal: The welfare state has turned out to be unaffordable, dependent as it is upon dubious economics and the demographic model of a bygone era.
~ Yuval Levin, Beyond the Welfare State
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Quote of the Day: Yuval Levin
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I do think there are so many 'safety nets' out there that people don't fear losing their jobs. I saw this happen just the other day. An acquaintance of mine was excited he was fired, and I found that disturbing. (Not saying everyone would feel this way by any means. But I can't imagine people from generations previous that would embrace unemployment.)
ReplyDeleteI believe in some minimal safety net to help those who are truly destitute or can't help themselves because of some kind of mental or physical defect. But I think we've gone way overboard. I can remember growing an having my grandparents and parents instill the idea in me that it was disgraceful for an able-bodied adult not to have a job and be a productive member of society contributing whatever they could. That kind of thinking has stayed with me, and colors my thinking on a number of topics.
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