I just finished reading the Samaritan's Dilemma and combined with post-election euphoria, it has made me think about what a good time it is to be a liberal. I have been very guilty of being embarassed about believing in the good government is capable of doing. After all, we all know that only bleeding heart, naive idiots believe that. This book by Deborah Stone was very inspiring; she sets a few pretty basic ideas. First off, most people universally agree that it is good and moral to help your neighbor. Second, Reaganism drilled the opposite idea into our heads: government help is bad and harmful. To need help is un-American.
The rest of the book is a very reasoned argument why help is not harmful and altruism is a powerful political force. She really rips apart the lies of the "government help is harmful" world view. I was amazed at how much of those ideas I had absorbed, even growing up in a left leaning household. We need the help of our neighbor, and we need to give that help to be a part of the democratic process. No more apologizing for wanting an American government that plays the role of the good Samiritan.
P.S. The kids have been playing together very nicely all day long. My former pessimistic mood from last post is over.
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