(Community Matters) It’s no secret I am unapologetic in my support of free market capitalism. And, I admit it is quite imperfect and requires government intervention and regulation – especially as relates to the costs of externalities and threats of exploitation.
And, last night after folks left our home, while sitting outside, having a cigar under the stars, listening to the creek flow, thinking about how much Steven and I love our family, friends and lives . . . . I was also reflecting on the economic threats currently faced by so many families.
For some reason, I started thinking about the young Frenchman I met in Spain a few years ago. We’d gotten to know each other after several weeks in a Spanish class. I remember him telling me he’d never been to America and never wanted to come. He feared being seduced by the materialism of America which threatened the pace & the priorities of his way of life. He was very smart, sharp, goodlooking and could easily have gotten on a fast track.
From our (American) perspective, the bureaucratic & socialist nature of France’s economy results in economic stagnation, limits the upside of economic opportunity. Yet, most of the French live quite nice lives. Americans love traveling to France, spending the summers in the south of France. Their people have time to smell the roses – enjoy beauty in food, art, daily life. Yet, admittedly, some yearn for the entrepreneurial freedoms and opportunities in America.
I don’t argue for adoption of a French economy. And, I do believe we’re probably ready for a slight step to the left, ensuring more regulation and preventing exploitation, providing greater baseline standards of living for our citizens which include healthcare, food, education and housing all while preserving the best of economic opportunities and rewards for entrepreneurs. Maybe even allowing more of us to live for today, rather than so often for tomorrow – enjoying our families, friends and lives a bit more.
Community Matters 