One of the fundamental questions we face today is a conflict between at least two visions of democratic governance.
In his
recent blog, reprinted by the HuffingtonPost, Jared Bernstein, Senior Fellow at the Center on Budget
and Policy Priorities provided the following ideas on what many experts
consider to be products or services that—since they are
not profitably provided by the private sector—are more cost-effectively
provided by the public sector…that is by all of us acting through our
representatives…government.
Social
Insurance for Retirees
Even leaders in the business community note the burden placed on our productivity by the system of private company provided retirement benefits.
Even leaders in the business community note the burden placed on our productivity by the system of private company provided retirement benefits.
Public Infrastructure
Remember the discussion about ‘shovel-ready’ projects to repair bridges and roads, energy and communication grids that private sector activity depends on?
Remember the discussion about ‘shovel-ready’ projects to repair bridges and roads, energy and communication grids that private sector activity depends on?
Barriers to
Production, Trade, and Technology
Basic research, like that famously associated with NASA, is too expensive and uncertain to attract private sector investment…but it is nevertheless critically important to private sector innovation.
Basic research, like that famously associated with NASA, is too expensive and uncertain to attract private sector investment…but it is nevertheless critically important to private sector innovation.
Public Education
An educated workforce, educated future leaders, worker training and re-training, depend on our collective will to make it happen.
An educated workforce, educated future leaders, worker training and re-training, depend on our collective will to make it happen.
A Safety Net
Many can be thrown out of work, losing their homes and savings, when systems fail…creating hardships not of their own making, as we all learned recently.
Many can be thrown out of work, losing their homes and savings, when systems fail…creating hardships not of their own making, as we all learned recently.
Regulation
of Potentially Harmful Market Outcomes
We expect our food and water to be safe, and we do not expect every consumer to have a chemists degree to ensure that safety on their own.
We expect our food and water to be safe, and we do not expect every consumer to have a chemists degree to ensure that safety on their own.
Health Care
Bernstein puts it this way, the “fact that it's not a normal market has led every other advanced economy to at least partially take this function out of the market, to avoid the ‘externalities’ that arise when people forego coverage yet need care.”
Bernstein puts it this way, the “fact that it's not a normal market has led every other advanced economy to at least partially take this function out of the market, to avoid the ‘externalities’ that arise when people forego coverage yet need care.”
Military
Defense and Judicial System
Alternatively, we could rely on private militia and Judge Judy.
Alternatively, we could rely on private militia and Judge Judy.
Should we add, delete, revise, or consolidate items on this list to clarify our policy debates?
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