Letter: ‘Socialism’ is American as apple pie

<p>To the editor:</p><p>As Harry Truman observed, “socialism” has been misused and misdirected in American politics as witnessed by Mr. Sullivan’s recent letter. Socially-responsible legislation and governance is not “socialism” and is American as apple pie.</p><p>Free public education to equip youth for the workforce has been an American hallmark. It started with fitting youth for the family farm with a sixth-grade education. Urbanization and the industrial revolution created a workforce that needed a high school level which is where we are at present. However, the workforce now demands post-secondary education and we are delinquent in not providing it.</p><p>We now appreciate that a healthy population is much less costly on public services. There is lots of evidence worldwide that preventative and free health services actually save the public money. The exorbitant projections of future costs of Medicare-for-all use statistics that make no adjustment for the improvements in productivity and reduction of public benefits that result from such investment.</p><p>We are at the mercy of a corporate-funded propaganda machine that churns out dire projections for any proposed investment in social improvement. Socially-responsible government must shed the shackles of the corporate conservatism that keeps us from improving the quality of life for ordinary working people and retirees.</p><p>When I was in charge of a nationwide health-benefits program, the corporate world fought against preventative care benefits in their insurance programs, Now they enjoy improved productivity and profitability from that modest investment that they were forced to make.</p><p>Investing in the quality of life of Americans is not socialism, it is fulfilling the American dream for everybody, not just entrepreneurs and investors.</p><p><p><strong>Donald Smith</strong></p><p><p><strong>Franklin</strong></p>