Why would you not want this?

It's not socialism but many on the right do not understand this

My mom loved creativity, learning, and books! This was her living room.

“Because despite our differences, we all really want the same things: a safe neighborhood, a good job with good benefits, a high quality, well-funded public school, and the ability to see a doctor when we need one.” —James Talarico

I’ve been thinking about these words ever since Talarico said them during his primary acceptance speech in March. What he describes here is something Americans have never truly experienced. And perhaps that is why they have never truly fought for it, because it’s not something they ever had and lost.

They don’t know what it’s like to have that kind of safety net.

But I, and most Europeans, do.

I have talked about this many times before. How my mom was a divorced mother of three, who was able to work and support us because she had access to free childcare and child benefits. How we lived in a small, affordable apartment in a safe neighborhood. How we had excellent public schools and universities. I mean, imagine not having to pay for your kids’ college education! Or imagine having an alternative to college in the form of state-funded trade schools, where young adults earn a salary while learning a trade. Trades are highly respected in Germany, and because trade school curricula are nationally standardized and shaped directly by industry demands, the job placement rate is high. As a result, Germany has one of the lowest youth unemployment rates in the EU.

Churches are also quite involved in public life in Germany, and run many schools, hospitals, and charities. In fact, I went nine years to a high-quality all-girl school managed by a convent. And finally, we never had to choose between food on the table or medical treatment, we could see a doctor whenever we needed to, without any out-of-pocket expenses.

Sure, taxes are high in Germany, especially for wealthy people, and yes, they often complain about it. There is even a church tax that many don’t like (you can opt out of it by “leaving” the church). And given the size of the government, German bureaucracy can also be a little insane. Also, there are people who take advantage of the system, like a friend of mine whose family lived on welfare for decades, even though her and her husband were able-bodied and could have worked. But those cases are outweighed by the benefits of a system that overall balances the giving and taking.

Speaking of working, being an employee in Germany is also very different compared to the US. There is a much stronger focus on work-life balance. In America, for instance, there is no federal law guaranteeing statuatory vacation time (although some states have local laws for this), and most employees start with 10 days per year. In Germany, paid time off is governed by federal law and starts at 20 days per year, and many employers offer 25-30 days. At Lufthansa, I had 35 days! Employment laws in general are very protective of the workers.

Now, I do need to add a disclaimer here: Things are changing in Germany, too, and the pressure on the system is high because the balance of give and take is under threat. Nonetheless, that doesn’t mean that the safety net I grew up with isn’t worth pursuing or safeguarding.

I can never fully express to my American friends what a difference this safety net and a government that cares for its people made to our outlook on life. It meant that everyone had a chance at an affordable, dignified, and safe life. We might have been a low-income family, but we were always fed, housed, educated, and healthy. And all three of us kids did well in life. We had our own challenges but we always supported ourselves and are happy to contribute and give back, too.

People on the right often think that what politicians like AOC, Sanders, Talarico, Mamdani, or Platner want is socialism or communism. They clearly don’t understand the true definition of these ideologies. There is, in fact, a big difference between a social democracy (Germany) and socialism (former East Germany) or communism (Russia, China). If you’re not sure what it is, there is plenty of information available online.

“Because despite our differences, we all really want the same things: a safe neighborhood, a good job with good benefits, a high quality, well-funded public school, and the ability to see a doctor when we need one.”

I mean, why would you not want this? ❤️