My apologies to E. F. Schumacher, author of one of the Econ books we had to read as undergrads. Small is Beautiful: Economics as if People Mattered. It’s still relevant if you have the urge.
People used to matter to both parties in the government. They bent over backward to deliver wonderful, awesome, amazing things.
I remember getting the oral polio vaccine at my elementary school. Just a sip and suddenly iron lungs were a thing of the past. My parents were so excited. Kennedy was president.
I remember all the interstates being built around town. So many jobs and so much access to the country. It was amazing. Eisenhower helped push that one through.
We had a wonderful, amazing space program. It inspired people like me to pursue engineering. Many jobs were created and lots of new technologies developed. That was Kennedy.
My grandparents got Medicare in 1965. I remember the excitement. It was just a part of the Great Society efforts, but it was a major part. (We could have guns AND butter, all you economists.) That was Johnson. Incredibly, he was from Texas.
My education at a public university was about $1500 per year, offset by grants and scholarships plus whatever it cost me to live. It was pretty easy to make it work with a part time job. Student loan burden was minimal for most students. Both parties supported accessible public colleges.
People really did matter at one point, for both parties. Now I see my representatives pushing forward for more restrictions on reproductive rights, fighting hard to make sure college grads get no student loan relief, and now pushing forward an agenda to cut many other popular government programs. Not to help anyone, of course. Just because. All this right from the People’s House.
I don’t see how a party whose agenda is built entirely on resentment can survive for long. I’m hopeful for 2024. What we’re seeing now is not how government was intended to work. A little study of the preamble to the Constitution of the United States might be in order.
Inspired by watching our new House majority attempt to articulate their plans. That is all. Cheers.