That Elusive Balancing Point

Let me pick an argument...

"The Welfare State," for example.

The sides line up as big-government liberals and freedom-loving conservatives. Presented as bitter rivals the middle ground is shrouded from view.

But we sometimes agree. We concede that it's hardly ideal for society to spend excess resources pulling along those who can not contribute back, but the suggestion of cutting them off completely is a dangerous position to hold. Likewise, it's hard to defend a culture in which failing schools are thrown millions and millions more dollars to "turn things around" and we propose to buy our way out of the downward spiral of economic recession. Our opposing sides can never agree.

So is there an issue—be it human rights or humanitarian aid or fair trade (these being goals of a social democracy)—on which a solid consensus has been formed? The bitter division between governments, non-profits, politicians, and so-called experts on each issue would suggest not.

I used to think that the right leader, the right generation, or the proper education could lead a society or individual to arrive at that state of balance, but that harmony doesn't seem possible. As a citizen in this social democracy I like it that way.