Gaining Ground

This book examines the challenges of aligning American social programs with the nation's deeply ingrained values of individualism, self-reliance, and responsibility, particularly when addressing poverty and other social hazards. Public social provision in the United States faces a paradox: while the necessity of programs like social security is broadly accepted, there is widespread skepticism toward initiatives that appear to relieve individuals of personal accountability. Influential critics, such as Charles Murray in Losing Ground, argue that many programs since the 1960s have undermined personal responsibility and discipline, fostering dependency rather than self-improvement. This criticism reflects broader cultural tensions, as Americans simultaneously recognize the need for collective action to mitigate risks like aging or illness while clinging to ideals of independence and merit-based rewards.

The thesis presented here is that social programs in the United States can gain broader acceptance and effectiveness by being tailored to resonate with these core values. Using the successful example of social security, which links benefits to individual contributions, the book proposes an "investments model" that ties public assistance to recipients' constructive efforts. This approach, emphasizing earned benefits rather than handouts, offers a framework for redesigning social programs to better address poverty while respecting cultural ideals. By examining key programs such as Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), Medicare, and social security, the analysis highlights opportunities for reform that balance the fulfillment of socioeconomic rights with the political and cultural realities of American society. While this approach cannot eliminate systemic inequities or transform dreary jobs into fulfilling work, it provides a pathway for reducing suffering and fostering greater alignment between public policy and American values.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1989.