Why Democracy Needs Public Goods by Kallhoff Angela;

Author:Kallhoff, Angela; [Kallhoff, Angela]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lexington Books
Published: 2011-03-14T16:00:00+00:00

PUBLIC GOODS AS SOCIAL EQUALIZERS

In this chapter I have argued that it is not fair to withhold a basic provision of security, cultural goods, environmental goods, education, health care, and infrastructure from any person. The normative claim regarding these goods, as expressed in this chapter, is that—for reasons of fairness—each person should have an equal chance to access these goods on a basic level. The underlying rationale is not the idea of a contract, nor is it a calculation of benefits and losses. I have argued that it results from an understanding of social justice that interprets equal access to basic goods as a regulative idea.

I shall conclude with an illustration that opens the discussion toward a direction that has not been followed in this chapter. Mr. Penalosa, the former Mayor of Bogota, who now gives advice to city planners, began to establish public goods in the poorest neighborhoods of Bogota. He built public libraries, installed sidewalks so that people could go for a walk and public parks for spending leisure time. Mr. Penalosa understands public goods not only as necessary means to realize justice, but as an essential ingredient in what he calls a “politics of happiness.” He summarizes his experiences as follows: “Parks have a very powerful role to play as equalizers of society. We almost always meet under conditions of social hierarchy. At work, some people are bosses, and others are employees; at restaurants, some people are serving and others are being served. Parks are the gathering place for community. They create a sense of belonging. Everybody is welcome regardless of age, background, income, or disabilities. This creates a different type of society.”37

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