The transformation of American liberalism

305 Pages·2017·2 MB·English

by  Klosko, George

The Transformation of American
Liberalism

The Transformation
of American Liberalism
GEORGE KLOSKO
1
1
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Klosko, George, author.
Title: The transformation of American liberalism / George Klosko.
Description: New York : Oxford University Press, 2017. |
Includes bibliographical references.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016044873 | ISBN 9780199973415 (hardcover)
Subjects: LCSH: Liberalism—United States—History. | Welfare state—United
States—History. | United States—Social policy—History.
Classification: LCC JC574.2.U6 K59 2018 | DDC 320.51/30973—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016044873
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed by Sheridan Books, Inc., United States of America
For Manny
and the memory of my brother, Steve

CONTENTS
Preface ix
Acknowledgments xi
Abbreviations xiii
Introduction 1
(1) INTRODUCTORY 1
(2) AMERICAN LIBERALISM 11
CHAPTER 1 The American Welfare State 14
(1) THE “WELFARE STATE” 14
(2) EARLY HISTORY 18
(3) COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVE 21
(4) CAUSAL FACTORS 27
(5) POLITICAL CULTURE AND JUSTIFICATION 33
CHAPTER 2 Old and New Liberalism 36
(1) LOCKEAN INDIVIDUALISM 37
(2) “NEGATIVE” AND “POSITIVE” RIGHTS 42
(3) THE CORRELATIVITY PROBLEM 45
(4) NEW LIBERALISM 50
3 Individualism and Progressivism: Conceptual
CHAPTER
Underpinnings 61
(1) LAISSEZ- FAIRE LIBERALISM 61
(2) PROGRESSIVE IDEAS 65
(3) THEODORE ROOSEVELT’S PROGRESSIVE IDEAS 70
viii Contents
CHAPTER 4 The British Welfare State 77
(1) LLOYD GEORGE AND LIBERAL REFORMS 78
(2) BEVERIDGE AND HIS REPORT 87
(3) THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE 98
(4) CONCLUSION 105
CHAPTER 5 FDR’s Original Sin 106
(1) FDR’S POLITICAL IDEAS 107
(2) FDR’S NEW YORK YEARS 109
(3) THE YEAR OF CRISIS 119
(4) SOCIAL SECURITY 122
(5) FDR’S ORIGINAL SIN 128
(6) THE ROAD NOT TAKEN 134
CHAPTER 6 Social Insurance and Welfare 151
(1) SOCIAL INSURANCE 152
(2) OLD-AGE INSURANCE (SOCIAL SECURITY) 155
(3) WELFARE 157
(4) EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT (EITC) 172
(5) SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) 178
(6) WAR ON POVERTY 181
(7) EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITY AND BASIC ACCESS 184
CHAPTER 7 Medicare and Medicaid 194
(1) HARRY TRUMAN AND NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE 195
(2) THE ROAD TO MEDICARE 200
(3) EDWARD KENNEDY AND JOHN F. KENNEDY 203
(4) LYNDON JOHNSON 208
(5) IMPLICATIONS 213
CHAPTER 8 Universal Health Insurance 220
(1) HEALTH INSURANCE AFTER MEDICARE 220
(2) BILL CLINTON AND HEALTHCARE SECURITY 224
(3) THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT 228
(4) IMPLICATIONS 242
Conclusion 248
Bibliography 263
Index 279
PREFACE
This is a book about liberalism in American political culture. Students of political
theory are familiar with the evolution of liberal theory between the time of John
Locke and major contemporary theorists who justify the values and social poli-
cies of the welfare state. This project began with questions about analogous shifts
in American political culture. I was interested in the arguments actually used by
political figures, especially presidents, to justify social welfare programs since the
advent of significant federal programs under Franklin D. Roosevelt. These justifica-
tory arguments constitute political theory “on the ground,” as it affects the policies
of actual states and their citizens. What I found falls well short of developed theories
based on the values of equality and human dignity that are often thought to under-
lie the welfare state. Individualist— “Lockean”— values and beliefs have exerted a
continuing hold on the political figures who attempted to justify social welfare pro-
grams, while their refusal— or perhaps inability— to get beyond these values has
constrained their justificatory arguments. The paradoxical result may be described
as continuing attempts to justify new social programs without acknowledging the
extent of their departure from existing political arrangements, or the incompatibil-
ity between the kinds of arguments necessary to justify such programs and the indi-
vidualist framework the political figures assumed. Accordingly, my first task was to
reconstruct these arguments and to analyze their shortcomings.
But this study should be of more than historical interest. The ideas I discuss
have had consequences; important weaknesses of the American welfare state can
be attributed, at least in part, to their influence. Scholars of the welfare state have
advanced numerous theories to explain how programs have developed in different
countries and the factors responsible for them. In general, I do not attempt to choose
between these theories. For the most part, I believe they are compatible, aside from
questions concerning which particular factors have been most important. But to the
causal factors that are generally discussed, I would add public justification of pro-
grams as another factor to consider. It is difficult to know how American social wel-
fare programs would look today if their founders had developed more cogent and
ix