This is a useful article. We forget how things have improved, relatively speaking, over time. As sone philosopher noted, having enough is more important for most people than reducing income inequality (although reduced income inequality seems correlated to lots of other positive health and happiness outcomes).
I will quibble with "vast." He admits that perhaps a simple GDP number isn't the only way to interpret wealth. And some of his comparisons are questionable (e.g. square footage? Europe is 3x more dense. Space is naturally cheap in the USA. How might one calculate 29 day vacations + 13 public holidays? How do we calculate that?).
The complaint about health care (better here, but less paperwork) may reflect the tendency of us in the USA to confuse health care outcomes with consumer satisfaction. The inclination to make hospital rooms like hotels is only marginally related to health. I can only note that I've received health care in four countries, and they all did the same thing: treated my condition.
We are richer individually, but he notes that Europe has a denser culture in many ways (they pay for public opera!). The shorthand is "public luxury, private frugality." Spend more on public goods, with more private economic limits.
The left, broadly speaking, might spend more time creating denser communities rather than expecting the state always to intervene. That, of course, takes a lot less yelling and more connecting.
Thank you. Helps to hear from someone who has studied economics. Polls have shown that Americans by a slight margin would like universal healthcare, but also want it to be privately funded. Then there is today's news that one of the most liberal politicians in the nation, Governor Newsom of California, is proposing that the state drop covering the healthcare of illegal immigrants. It's all the kind of thing that helps me reconnect with the reality that American culture is simply different than what we see in most European nations. It may also suggest some shifting in the narratives used in the Democratic Party. American mobility since the Second World War has reduced the cultural density of many local communities. Readers may find it useful to look at our article on "Organizations in a world of choices." There we look at how parish church might respond to the situation.
This reminds me of a few times when I've encountered a family who jumps right in to participate in church. Usually they are military families who are used to moving around. I've admired that.
I suspect Newsome is responding to political pressure, and he wants to win elections. Giving illegal immigrants health care is unpopular, even if it is beneficial in other ways (or at least, relatively insignificant). The Dems need 50.1% to win.
Often, what may make economic sense is politically disastrous. Congestion pricing here in NY is one of those policies - politicians hate it, but its great policy. So after a few months, it's remarkable how successful it is - less traffic, faster emergency responses, more foot traffic....
American culture has its differences with Europe. I also resonate with the idea that the US has 11 different nations within it, as Colin Woodard writes.
Thanks for this post, Robert. Early in my ministry as a Rector, I did a good bit of continuing education work with the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (Family Systems Theory). It was incredibly useful, especially in the area of conflict management in the parish, as well as managing the self (anxiety, reaction vs response, etc). Family Systems Theory will always be a great tool for my tool belt not only in parish ministry, but in my own family/household.
But after a couple of years immersed in that "world" of Family Systems Theory, I came to realize that as helpful as it was, I needed to gain more tools for my tool belt. It alone was unable to provide me all that I needed as a solo Rector of a growing parish. That is when I found the Parish Development tools (in this case, a Parish Development Clinic offered/presented by the Order of the Ascension).
The more I "diversify my portfolio" as a leader of a parish, the more equipped I am to do the work God has called me to do. Of course, I am always still learning/deepening my understanding of the various models/tools.
This is a useful article. We forget how things have improved, relatively speaking, over time. As sone philosopher noted, having enough is more important for most people than reducing income inequality (although reduced income inequality seems correlated to lots of other positive health and happiness outcomes).
I will quibble with "vast." He admits that perhaps a simple GDP number isn't the only way to interpret wealth. And some of his comparisons are questionable (e.g. square footage? Europe is 3x more dense. Space is naturally cheap in the USA. How might one calculate 29 day vacations + 13 public holidays? How do we calculate that?).
The complaint about health care (better here, but less paperwork) may reflect the tendency of us in the USA to confuse health care outcomes with consumer satisfaction. The inclination to make hospital rooms like hotels is only marginally related to health. I can only note that I've received health care in four countries, and they all did the same thing: treated my condition.
We are richer individually, but he notes that Europe has a denser culture in many ways (they pay for public opera!). The shorthand is "public luxury, private frugality." Spend more on public goods, with more private economic limits.
The left, broadly speaking, might spend more time creating denser communities rather than expecting the state always to intervene. That, of course, takes a lot less yelling and more connecting.
Thank you. Helps to hear from someone who has studied economics. Polls have shown that Americans by a slight margin would like universal healthcare, but also want it to be privately funded. Then there is today's news that one of the most liberal politicians in the nation, Governor Newsom of California, is proposing that the state drop covering the healthcare of illegal immigrants. It's all the kind of thing that helps me reconnect with the reality that American culture is simply different than what we see in most European nations. It may also suggest some shifting in the narratives used in the Democratic Party. American mobility since the Second World War has reduced the cultural density of many local communities. Readers may find it useful to look at our article on "Organizations in a world of choices." There we look at how parish church might respond to the situation.
This reminds me of a few times when I've encountered a family who jumps right in to participate in church. Usually they are military families who are used to moving around. I've admired that.
I suspect Newsome is responding to political pressure, and he wants to win elections. Giving illegal immigrants health care is unpopular, even if it is beneficial in other ways (or at least, relatively insignificant). The Dems need 50.1% to win.
Often, what may make economic sense is politically disastrous. Congestion pricing here in NY is one of those policies - politicians hate it, but its great policy. So after a few months, it's remarkable how successful it is - less traffic, faster emergency responses, more foot traffic....
American culture has its differences with Europe. I also resonate with the idea that the US has 11 different nations within it, as Colin Woodard writes.
Thanks for this post, Robert. Early in my ministry as a Rector, I did a good bit of continuing education work with the Lombard Mennonite Peace Center (Family Systems Theory). It was incredibly useful, especially in the area of conflict management in the parish, as well as managing the self (anxiety, reaction vs response, etc). Family Systems Theory will always be a great tool for my tool belt not only in parish ministry, but in my own family/household.
But after a couple of years immersed in that "world" of Family Systems Theory, I came to realize that as helpful as it was, I needed to gain more tools for my tool belt. It alone was unable to provide me all that I needed as a solo Rector of a growing parish. That is when I found the Parish Development tools (in this case, a Parish Development Clinic offered/presented by the Order of the Ascension).
The more I "diversify my portfolio" as a leader of a parish, the more equipped I am to do the work God has called me to do. Of course, I am always still learning/deepening my understanding of the various models/tools.