ABSTRACT
It is difficult to devise federal policies and programs that foster a path for most to economic self-sufficiency and upward mobility but offer safeguards for those truly in need. The equalitarian ideal of social democracy seeks to provide policy prescriptions to meet personal anxieties and ameliorate America's allegedly harsh capitalist system. Money occupies a central place in social democrats' thinking about societal problems and remedies. In contrast to social democrats with their utopian aspirations, some take a negative view of all public sector programs. They perceive these programs as having no impact on the intended recipients or producing unintended negative consequences. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts covered in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book presents a different vision and public policy prescriptions. It seeks to thread the fine public-policy needle between the social democratic efforts to perfect the world and those who negatively view all public sector programs.
