LETTER: Government can bring people together, strengthen communities

Dear Editor,

Readers: “There comes a time when the rich will own all the media and it will be impossible for the public to make an informed opinion,” Albert Einstein, 1949.

Albert Einstein wrote an essay titled “Why Socialism?” In it, he wrote: “Man is at one and the same time, a solitary being and a social being. As a solitary being he attempts to protect his own existence and that of those who are closest to him to satisfy his personal desires and to develop his innate abilities. As a social being, he seeks to gain the recognition and affection of his fellow human beings to share in their pleasures to comfort them in their sorrows and to improve their conditions of life.”

Please allow me to share my point of view. There is a strong political movement today based on the belief that government has become too involved in our lives and can be dangerous. Cuts to many social programs suggest that we are no longer responsible for helping some people in our society. I believe this way of thinking overlooks an important point: government involvement does not always mean giving up our individual rights or our ability to make our own choices. In fact, I believe the opposite can sometimes be true.

None of us can be completely self-sufficient. We all depend on the work and contributions of millions of other people. This connection to one another can make us stronger and more secure. It does not have to threaten our individual rights or our financial well-being.

We need to move beyond our fear of depending on one another and recognize our responsibility to our fellow citizens. If we value only power and personal success, we risk harming both our society and our economy. We may also create a society in which more people feel insecure, lonely, and unable to enjoy the simple pleasures of life.

People who believe government should have a strong role in areas such as health care, consumer protection, and workers’ collective bargaining rights are sometimes labeled “socialists.” The word can be used to create fear by connecting socialism with leaders such as Joseph Stalin and the violence of his government. But socialism can also refer to political movements that support people working together, often through government, to protect the public from some of the problems that can occur in a free-market economy. Many democracies around the world have been influenced by socialist political movements.

I believe our current system is moving us in the wrong direction. We are becoming less connected to one another and more fearful of government. Instead, I believe government can help bring us together and make our communities stronger when it truly serves the people-a government by, for, and of the people.

Millie Hofer

Menominee