OPINION: Common sense should guide America

No political party agendas, particularly extreme positions, should guide America as it confronts 21st-century challenges. It would seem that common sense, wherever we can find it, would serve us very well. For example, with all of America’s divisions and disagreements, wouldn’t it be logical to ask and attempt to answer one simple question: What is necessary to sustain a country’s strength and resilience? Simple answer: A healthy and well-educated population.

I cannot comprehend why any politician or government leader would disagree with the idea of growing and strengthening our country’s middle class. Such an achievement would help the U.S. remain the most powerful economic force in the world. And for the wealthy who are concerned about higher taxes to pay for universal health care and education beyond 12th grade, a larger and stronger middle class would most likely make them wealthier.

There are no scholarly economic studies or models here. Hopefully, just a bit of common sense. We cannot have a productive and globally competitive workforce without healthy workers. Certainly, universal health care would cost money. Eliminating profiteering in our health care industry would defray a substantial part of this cost. And significantly upgrading our country’s education system would take time, not only because of cost, but the need for a major attitudinal shift across our society that embraces intellectual inquiry and learning. But such developments are vital if America intends to qualify workers for 21st-century jobs.

Some assert our country can’t afford universal health care and more investment in education. In our increasingly competitive world, with China becoming a manufacturing juggernaut, it seems we can’t afford not to.

The hybrid economic system of socialism and capitalism that exists in countries like Germany has and continues to work well. Such a system does not diminish the entrepreneurism or individual incentives inherent in a free-market economy. And the obvious engine powering Germany today is a well-educated citizenry—at one of the highest levels in all of Europe.

I think we need to be honest with ourselves and acknowledge that greed has dominated the arc of human existence since its very beginning. It won’t go away. But perhaps we can learn how to deal with it in a more creative way. The very rich will always fight to retain their wealth, and in many cases, rightfully so. But rather than work against them, perhaps we can enlist their aid to help grow the economy from the middle, as President Biden describes. This would include raising tax rates on the wealthiest 5%, and a limited sliding scale rate as individual and corporate earnings rise.

Taxes are anathema to many, I understand. But as a result, in mobilizing more of the country’s workforce, the U.S. economic pie would get bigger. A much larger swath of the population would benefit economically. And finally, in an energized economy with a stimulated private sector, the wealthy would reap bigger slices of that pie.

The affluent would undoubtedly argue that increasing taxes on the top five percent would be a slippery slope that would portend yet more tax increases. Sunset clauses on such tax policies could be instituted. And, as many others have observed, how can a democracy endure in a country where 10% of the population controls 70% of its wealth?

Cynics might note that in upcoming decades artificial intelligence will claim a large portion of jobs, which would make growing the middle class impossible. They might also posit gloomily that a two-class, have-and-have-not society similar to many countries in the world, is inevitable for America. They might point out that the ultra-wealthy, who are heavily leveraged in the stock market, invested in overseas interests and prodigiously tax-sheltered, do not want change, except to lower their taxes. As in the past, they would claim that with their “trickle-down” economics, lowering their taxes would result in more investment and jobs that would boost the economy. Did Reaganomics work?

I’m certainly no economist, but I believe the emergence of green energy, artificial intelligence and other technology to deal with climate change and other environmental issues will actually increase the number of jobs; but only if our population is educated for those jobs. And the final result: A strong middle class that harnesses the talents and energies of more Americans.

A stronger, larger economy with a robust middle class would also enhance our federal and state governments’ ability to take care of those people can’t take care of themselves. Contrary to what some assert, programs such as Social Security and Medicare are not socialistic entitlements. Most recipients have paid into those programs throughout their working lives.

I think most of us know what has to happen before our country’s woes can be addressed and we can move forward. The prescription: An improved education system that goes beyond 12th grade, with more opportunities in vocational training; health care for all; cooperation across political aisles; intelligent voting, more listening, compromising, moderate viewpoints and truth telling.

Lastly, and probably most difficult, our country needs a cultural shift away from “me first, I’ve got mine” thinking toward more ethical, inclusive attitudes.

Whatever the case, no one could disagree with the fact we need a large dose of common sense, particularly among our elected officials. If he were alive, I bet Thomas Paine, whose 47-page pamphlet “Common Sense” greatly influenced Americans’ quest for independence in 1776, would agree.

Frank E. Baker is a lifetime Alaskan and freelance writer who lives in Eagle River.

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