LU-MRRL Lecture Series: Is There Socialism in the US?

Americans consistently support government programs such as Social Security, Medicare, municipal services, and universal K-12 education, and yet social spending in the United States has long been lower than that of other advanced industrial nations. What accounts for Americans' ambivalence toward social spending, and what are the prospects for shoring up and even expanding popular programs such as Social Security and Medicare? The question of "Why no socialism in the United States" is an old one, and understanding how America's unique social safety net evolved will help reformers understand the prospects for the future of these programs, Dr. Brian Norris, associate professor of political science at Lincoln University, will discuss these timely issues.