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Communitarianism

Communitarianism
27.mai.2020

To a friend of a friend (who has since clarified her point of view, so I'm glad I didn't post this) but I share now to shed some light as to where I'm coming from.

You're American! The American definition: welfare = something people don't deserve but "we do-gooders begrudgingly support them because we can't kill them (thankfully we don't have to associate with them or allow them to live where we do)".

That's not the only definition of 'welfare'. Try: "statutory procedure or social effort designed to promote the basic physical and material well-being of [ALL] people in need." or better, "the health, happiness, and fortunes of [everyone] a person or group." In my opinion? If Americans aren't being materialistic they are being mercenary and it's always about the money (how can we afford this! ... as they nosh on $15 burgers and $8 lattes).

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh but Americans deeply believe in dichotomies: that there are two type of people: the haves and have-nots; us versus them; the worthy and unworthy; sinner and saved. Anything that is messy ... like real people living real lives ... takes too much effort to comprehend. So ... social security IS welfare. And I believe in welfare. I don't think my check is better than someone else's source of money because I 'worked for it'. But many Americans constantly attach negative labels to those they disapprove of and in doing-so divide us. My Swedish roots disagree.

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