weigh in: U.S. going socialist?

Having lived in Europe for half of my life and then in the United States I think I am in a good position to comment on that: the U.S. are not yet European, and, G-d willing, will hopefully never become European. European, that means that government is seen as the salvation, the solution of all problems, as the great determinator of what people may do, feel, and believe.

In Europe government determines what is good for the subjects. It pretends that it knows better what to do with the money people earn, how people should spend their time, what they should eat and so on.

In America, freedom always meant freedom of choice. Here we are supposed to make decisions ourselves, and bear the responsibility for those decisions.

And here it is true, the new government is on a radical course towards Europeanism. The new administration consists of many people who think that government knows better. Not so much economically (here the government basically admits it is as clueless as the rest of the world about what to do), but very much when it comes to individual choice. In New York City for example mayor Bloomberg thinks he must tell people what they have to eat. Many state colleges and schools are telling people what to think instead of promoting debate.

However, the current debate about “going socialist” is about the wrong things. It is focused on the bank bailout and Obama’s economic program.

Some right-wing people are crying “socialism” because the government is bailing out banks or insurance companies. The wisdom of that is questionable, of course, but government has an obligation to step in when the economic and social fabric of the country is at stake. And it somehow seems those who cry loudest also hold out their hands highest to receive government money.

It has nothing to do with socialism when the government insists on the old very capitalist rule: He who pays also decides. It has nothing to do with socialism if government bails out failing a bank and then demands a say in its affairs. That is capitalism: the government bought a bank, so it is the boss.

The hysterical criticism of anything like universal healthcare is also not to be taken seriously. The United States are not the only country with a failing health care system, someone mentioned Britain, I have seen socialist medicine at work in Mexico and Italy and thanked G-d I never got sick in those countries. Even the German system is breaking apart. Today it seems the Swiss system is working best, but no system is perfect. I personally think it is in the best interest of the country, capitalist and all, to have a system that guarantees every citizen affordable and effective healthcare. It will be a tough fight to find a system that is fair. But that does not mean that universal healthcare is “socialist”, or, if you want to call it socialist, that it is bad.

So, are we soon to be singing the “Internationale” and celebrate Karl Marx’ birthday? No, we are far from it. But it pays to watch the steps towards Europeanization carefully: our individual liberty is at stake. I am much more concerned about the “thought police” appearing everywhere than about some higher taxes to fix the economic mess.