The Wealth of Nations
The wealth of nations is not based upon its gold but on the health and welfare of its people.
Individual talent and resourcefulness are the true golden goose and each and every individual can play a part in building a society.
Often times the true worth of a nation is not uncovered until a great catastrophe befalls that society and a great rebuilding is needed.
The German bombing between September 1940 and May 1941, referred to as The London Bitz, is one example. All of Britain was under attack and individuals needed to pull together which they did.
After the Blitz, a rebuilding was needed.
As in the Leper Messiah, we see that even the outcasts and most desperate among us can contribute to society. In fact, the more unique an individual is, the more they may add to the fabric of society.
The role of the government should be to encourage and allow the individual’s skill and talent to flourish. This is necessary for a society to grow and prosper.
The Beveridge Report
William Beverage, the British politician and social reformer (1879-1963), was instrumental in bringing in the first Welfare State in Britain after the war and the Blitz.
He, like King David, had giants to slay!
Beveridge detailed five giants to combat as follows:
- Want,
- Disease,
- Ignorance,
- Squalor,
- Idleness.
Full employment played a key role in this great reconstruction, however, the real issue was to build a society of healthy, contributing individuals.
People were said to be the engines of society. Social justice was a key factor. The idea was that people who had their basic needs met would function better and would be able to contribute their unique skills and ideas to the greater task of rebuilding British society.
The Beveridge Report was a sharp instrument used to rebuild a broken society.
Now, in a global Blitz of COVID19, we as a society must answer that same call to reconstruct a faltering economy.
Just as David had Goliath, and William Beverage had his giants to fight, we must slay our own giants!
Robert
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