Resisting Change, Reform or Revolt

Dear James, Daniel and Emily,

For the majority of our history the United States has been unique amongst nations in that it handled needed reforms and changes peacefully. With the exception of the Civil War and some sporadic labor clashes we have always adapted and made necessary changes before we crossed the brink. It has always been a part of our national DNA to do so. Which gives me hope. Because right now we are fast approaching one of those moments where changes have to be made peacefully or violence may occur.

Health Care

Here's the best philosophical argument for why we need to improve the system that I have encountered, it comes from Gregg Easterbrook's Sonic Boom. Our world is going faster, people need to be flexible, companies may change, the days of working the same place for years is going away. And yet the one thing that paralyzes people, makes them stick to dead end jobs, not take the chance to go elsewhere, or strike out on their own is insurance. If they knew with 100% certainty that they (and their families) would be provided for with health care people might be more willing to take that leap. And taking that leap is a part of the engine that drives the economy: innovation. Again, this is a philosophical point, it doesn't address they myriad details that have to be covered in providing that coverage. But those can be addressed. The bottom line is that we are definitely at the precipice of this issue and this may be the last chance to peacefully return from the brink.

Income inequality

We are slowly becoming a nation of have's and have nots. There is some level of flixibility, it isn't a rigid caste system, or even as closed as many european countries. But the bottom line is we are developing a hereditary underclass. Poor people whose expectations are set low, and where the chances of economic success are small and getting smaller. And the great dream of America: the Middle Class, is where the losses are being felt.

Understand I am not talking standard of living. I realize that what the poor person in the U.S. can expect is still dramatically better than people in other countries: TV's, Cell Phones, computers etc. What I am talking about is the future: education and educational opportunities, a feeling that your children can expect to live better than you.

And no Democracy can handle a permanent underclass forever. Eventually the rising tide recedes. And what gets left behind has to be dealt with. If we as a country do not address this eventually that group of people will get larger and more desparate, and all it will take is a spark to ignite them.

Progressive Movement

What historically was referred to as the Progressive Movement was one of the cases where this nation avoided that spark. And the resulting changes: Income Tax, Labor Unions, Government Reform, Trust Busting, all pulled us back from that brink. The New Deal was another example of the Progressives saving Capitalism from itself: Social Security, FDIC, SEC, NLRB.

Once again we are facing that brink, and if the powers that be are smart they will recognize that it is far better business in the long run to pull us back from the brink, than continue to conduct business as usual. It simply is not good long term business to spend money subverting Envrinomentalist groups, cashing out huge bonuses, and fighting inevitable reform. And yet that is what our modern Coporations and the Party of No are doing. They fear change, but don't realize that change is inevitable and they can make that change smooth and profitable, or fight it and pay the consequences.