Over the decades (and even centuries), Americans have not opposed the development of a modern welfare state. All these forms of backdoor spending still constitute elements of the welfare state. But the annals of tax reform are littered with tax preferences that found themselves on the losing side of a political bargain. Moreover, if durability is the name of the game, then champions of welfare state expansion must grapple with the undeniable success of Social Security and Medicare. Both of these marquee achievements of the American welfare state were designed using the bought-and-paid-for model for ensuring political longevity.

Source: Forbes April 01, 2021 15:22 UTC