by Charles P. Kindleberger
What would a “peace economy” look like? How can we envision such a thing? But wait you say – isn’t that a stupid exercise in this age of wars in some countries and tension in plenty of others.
Perhaps. Yet as the Obama Administration wrestles with a huge array of competing priorities, it would seem especially timely. Now more than ever is the time to think through the direction in which you would like to see this nation move. And then to fight for it.
What follows is my attempt to define the goal. See where you agree.
Health. Like every other industrialized country, health care would be a fundamental right in a “peace economy” for the USA. Individuals and families would no longer be susceptible to bankruptcy because of one accident, illness or job loss. Routine preventive care would be available to all.
Employment. The Full Employment Act of 1946, revised in 1978, would be taken seriously. Extensive worker retraining programs would be available. Public service work opportunities would exist for those unable to find private sector jobs. The modern day equivalent of the WPA, CCC and related programs of the 1930s would provide a source of income and psychic reward for all.
Income. The huge disparities that have developed in this country between the upper and lower income segments would dissipate, and income levels at the bottom (made possible by minimum wage and Earned Income Tax Credits) would rise. The government would adopt a more reasonable definition of poverty, and would begin to do something about it.
Infrastructure. The collapse of the I 35W Mississippi bridge in Minneapolis reminded us all of the large unmet needs in the nation’s infrastructure. We need new and repaired bridges, highways, flood controls, parks, and much more for the 300 million Americans that live here now and the additional 100+ million that are expected in relatively near future. The costs will be very large, but like most capital improvements there will be payoffs in economic productivity and quality of life.
Education. A peace economy would improve this source of national embarrassment. Teachers would be empowered, motivated and adequately compensated. Teenagers would not have the option of dropping out (those unwilling or unable to participate in traditional high schools would be required to engage in public service via the Job Corps, Americorp, or even the military). Those wanting higher learning would be able to go to college the way we used to, without running up huge college debts.
Energy. A peace economy would put in place major programs designed to deal with the planet’s related energy, transportation, food, water and climate change challenges. Universities and defense industries would be encouraged to participate in publicly subsidized research and development programs on a large scale basis.
Environment. There is so much to be done: reducing sprawl, cleaning rivers, removing ocean dead spots, saving forests, species and overall bio-diversity. A peace economy would address these controversial issues in a more direct, assertive manner than that which characterized the last eight years.
Foreign Policy. In a peace economy, the USA would apologize for its excesses in Iraq, Guantanamo and other parts of the world. We would return to our tradition of moral leadership by renouncing arms trade, reducing famine, and helping with AIDS, Malaria, TB and general poverty around the world. We would confront tyrants such as the leaders of Zimbabwe and Sudan, but always with a bias towards multi-national diplomacy.
Defense. In my peace economy, the USA would retain a military. However, it would be one that spent dramatically less than today’s 500+ billion a year, equal to all the other worlds nations combined. The Defense Department would continue to improve, but incrementally with far fewer giant investments in new bombers, fighter planes, missile defense systems and nuclear replacement. Defending against cyber warfare, dirty bombs, nanotechnology based weapons, bio-chemical pathogens, etc. would receive even more attention.
In my peace economy the housing bubble with its painful foreclosures and layoffs would not have happened, because regulatory measures would have kept run away greed under control. We would probably pay more taxes, and have slightly less freedom to pollute our planet, but I’m convinced that we would be happier.
Naïve? Maybe. My world would still have hurricanes, earthquakes and other disasters both natural and man made. Child abuse, homelessness, random crime and many of the other ills of society would no doubt persist. However, I believe there would be a better chance of avoiding the calamity of nuclear war, mass extinctions and dramatic climate change. Hopefully there would also be a little more tolerance and love.
I believe that President Obama’s administration is generally moving in the right direction. However, in this complex political environment, those who share the goals outlined above need to push as never before.
