Make It Rain

Aug 16

We went to dinner at our friends’ house last night, so our dog Rosie’s routine got disrupted. I took her outside immediately after returning home (about 9:30), but she was too excited to do her business. I took her out again at 10:00, and she peed. But she really needed to do more, so at 11:40 she was whining at the foot of the bed as the rain poured outside. By the time I got dressed, went downstairs, put on the poncho, the headlamp and my sandals, leashed her up and opened the door to the monsoon, she had decided that this was not the time for a potty break. So I stripped off my gear, stomped upstairs in a huff and told Lori that she was on dog duty for the rest of the evening. And I sat down to write this essay.

The kernel of what I want to write about is something I saw online this week - a post from a Norwegian named Trond Solberg (@trond_solber71 on Threads). As near as I can tell, this account seems to originate from a real person (not a bot). Here is what he posted:

“Hi Norwegian here.

A hard thing to explain about social democracy is that we WANT our taxes to go to the “undeserving.”

Not because we’re naive.

Because it works.

Healthy people cost less.

Educated people contribute more.

Housed people are more stable.

The “undeserving” are actually pretty good investments.

But the main point is that in a healthy society there are no “undeserving.” They are just people.

Dignity is not a privilege.”

Even if this post was generated by a propaganda bot, these are statements that I buy.

More often than not, I believe what some might call “handouts” to people in need are the most long-term economically effective response. In environments where food security and shelter are available, people behave differently. Add in access to reasonable medical care and quality education, and we get closer to making society a game that can be “won” (i.e. more people leading fulfilling, productive lives) regardless of anyone’s particular starting position on the game board.

Too many in America are trying to consolidate power, rigging the game such that social mobility would be far more difficult.

We can have a more supportive, fair society. I know this because it exists elsewhere in the world, right now. I have visited some of these places. I also know it because America used to be more supportive and fair than we are today.

Anyway, the midterm elections are a few weeks away. It will be interesting to see how voters choose between fear and possibility.

Sunday Supper

Chicken Casserole w/ Mushrooms & Spinach

Basic Corn Chowder

Fried Green Tomatoes

Baja Fish Tacos

Tahini Krispie Chocolate Bars

Sunday Music

Audrey Hobert at the NPR Tiny Desk

Carole King’s Tapestry, Live in Hyde Park

Gia Margaret on KEXP

Airelle Besson & Lionel Suarez, live in France