Born on Third Base
My best friend will be in town this weekend from New York City, so I wanted to get my post up a little early! I appreciate how Collins deconstructs the idea of “deservedness” by explaining how we all benefit from public investments. One great example he gives is about the GI Bill that allowed veterans to come back to stability by providing funds for education and housing. The 1944 GI Bill allowed middle class veterans to quickly get back on their feet. These people became stable and successful, and could pass that security to their children. Today’s republicans and democrats alike praise President FDR for signing this bill and saving the post-war economy. Yet conservatives today cringe at similar programs, like universal health care. Collins’ point is that we all, regardless of status, benefit from public investments. And to say that we haven’t is just privilege blinding us. Collins writes, “We look at our subsidy as deserved. But the other person’s subsidy is welfare or ...