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This paper was written when I was younger, so it may have broken citations, grammatical errors, or even incorrect information. It may also include information or arguments I now disagree with.
The United States is the most powerful country in world history. Even with a close Revolutionary War, a violent Civil War, the Great Depression, and the Cold War, the United States has become one of the world’s most powerful economic, cultural, and military powerhouse in history.@Top25Economies🔗@CulturalInfluenceCountry2022🔗@CulturalInfluenceCountry🔗@MostCulturallyInfluential🔗@2023MilitaryStrength🔗 It arguably began a trend of countries transitioning to more democratic forms of government, creating more prosperity for people around the globe.@herreDemocracy2023🔗 Despite these achievements, the United States has somewhat fallen behind its allies in several affairs, specifically when it comes to domestic social welfare.@GlobalInfrastructureIndex2021🔗@PublicationsPISA🔗@MirrorMirror20212021🔗 These issues seem to stem from the deep political divides that exist not just today but ever since the founding of the United States.
The founders of the United States deliberated on many issues, from the roles the states had with the new federal government to slavery.@DebatesFederalConvention🔗 These debates would ultimately form many disagreements that Americans would have for centuries. These opinions would take many forms within various political parties over the nation’s history, causing some of its most politically troublesome times. But one point of view that seems to prevent the country from making meaningful and speedy progress with almost any policies is what matters the government, both at the state and federal level, should have authority over. Much of this disagreement comes from various interpretations of the Constitution and transcripts from the founding fathers.@Constitution🔗 I will attempt to argue that the federal and state governments should focus more on the welfare of Americans and create more of a symbiotic relationship with their people.
Ever since the Mid-20th century baby boom, the United States has seemingly lost its foothold on customary metrics determining the health and prosperity of a nation, such as education levels, health outcomes, income inequality, public infrastructure, and many more. Most of these problems likely stem from Americans’ different views on government compared to our European allies, such as individual freedom and how much personal choice affects outcomes. In contrast, in Europe it is common for a nation to influence much of its social well-being, such as healthcare and education, acknowledging that similar elements to a person’s life are primarily out of their control.@alesinaWhyAreWelfare2006🔗 Despite this, Americans seem to view their government more antagonistically and believe that most aspects of a person’s life are in their control, often referencing the “American Dream,” the idea that the United States has much upward mobility.@wikeWaysAmericansEuropeans🔗@silverWhereAmericansEuropeans🔗 Despite much criticism, this concept has been less and less achievable over the past few decades, especially since many European countries have a more upward mobility compared to the United States.
This antagonism likely stems from the founding being of independence and freedom from a tyrannical monarchy. However, said government no longer exists, and the United States is not an authoritative monarchy but a democratic republic. The interventions of European countries seem to have an overall positive impact and enrich the lives of their people, perplexing the American philosophy on government even more, especially considering that the United States has secure institutions as well. I am not trying to argue that the United States should copy what Europe has done for their people, but that the United States should intervene more to improve the lives of Americans, taking notes from Europeans.
Freedom is often the main argument against many of Europe’s more interventionist policies. The belief is that the more the government involves itself, the less freedom the American people will have. There is some truth to this, but it fails to encapsulate what freedom means and its importance in everyday life. Freedom is not a black-and-white concept, nor does more freedom equate to more prosperity, but rather a spectrum. Anarchy, for instance, is where there is the absence of any ruling authority over society, like a government. However, this form of government is unrealistic and dangerous for many reasons. Government helps enrich the lives of its people, such as protection, infrastructure, law and order, and welfare in hard times. European governments seem to intervene in just these elements of society and do little to impede on the everyday rights of people. Although Europeans cannot carry firearms or drive anything at any time, they enjoy a higher quality of life despite this. Freedom should be a tool to improve life, not the end goal.
There are also two types of freedom: positive freedom and negative freedom.@ackersonNegativeFreedomDeath2010🔗@carterPositiveNegativeLiberty2022🔗 In the United States, we focus on negative freedom, which is the absence of government in one’s life, creating more options for them. On the other hand, positive freedoms, as many other developed nations have, are when the government intervene and help a citizen and open them up to more options, giving them more choice. For instance, the Netherlands has a cost-efficient and speedy form of public transportation, along with many walkable and cyclable. Although this may reduce the utility of motor vehicles more for everyday people, it creates quieter neighborhoods, makes necessities closer, and gives them more choices for transportation. I by no means suggest that governments should control every aspect of one’s life, nor should their power to aid citizens be unrestricted.
Within the Constitution of the United States itself, within its Preamble, it states, “…establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”@Constitution🔗 Implying that the United States has an obligation to protect the liberty of its people and their general welfare as well. Even if the United States did not have an obligation to this principle, I would still advocate that the United States, similar to comparable nations, should help and care for its citizens and this can be achieved while still keeping our freedoms and liberties.