Other Countries Figure It Out, So Why Can't We?

Other countries can figure this out, and I can see no good reason other than our own American classism and xenophobia why we can't:

+ One year of paid parental leave for the caregiving parent as a universal program, not tied to a specific employer.

+ A public option/ universal early childhood learning center and childcare during the toddler and preschool years, similar to having a public school system. (Yes, parents could choose to stay home with their kids. Yes, parents could choose a private or faith-based school. Yes, parents could choose where to live and therefore which public childcare). It takes 9-10 months to make a baby. That's more than enough time to list them and prepare for a place in a childcare center if needed, really.

+ Before- and After-School clubs and care for children whose parents work shifts and don't have the flexibility to work only during school hours, that are sliding-scale based on income, up until youth are of working/ driving age.

+ Universal public healthcare and universal public higher education are also two more things that other countries have figured out are a solid investment in their people and their country. It is a *good* thing if we have more people who have not only the talent, but the training and support to go and work as healthcare practitioners. Or as scientists. Or as teachers. Or as social service workers. Or as mental health practitioners. Or as engineers. Or as any number of things--but our country instead chooses to waste its time stigmatizing lower-income workers and anyone who would like to attain an education and put it to use to help people but who isn't themselves independently wealthy.

It's so frustrating. We're just shooting ourselves in the foot as a nation, over and over again, and for what? To have someone do less well than us, to watch others suffer in life, in order to make ourselves feel better? I'd rather see all of us do okay, and we should want to ensure all people at least have their basic human needs met.

The longer I live, the more I see that most of our problems in this country and in this world are the results of our own policy choices--and our lack of awareness for how other places have done things better, or our lack of willpower to choose leaders who will work together to make things more equitable, healthy, and safe for everyone, is why things are the way they are.