The 2015 Social Progress Index, summarized in Michael Porter’s April 10 op-ed “America’s failing report card,” should be a wake-up call. Porter notes the dismal ranking of the United States in health and wellness (68th), personal safety (30th), access to basic knowledge (45th), and ecosystem sustainability (74th). We rank far behind countries such as Vietnam, Guatemala, and Venezuela in health and wellness, despite spending twice as much per capita on health care as other rich countries.
These results should come as no great surprise to those who have been reviewing international comparisons in recent years. But the extent to which our performance in important social metrics has declined should shock us all.
It was not that long ago that we led the world in most of the important measurements of social progress. Now we lead the world in the percentage of population incarcerated and in disparity of income and wealth distribution, among other not-so-desirable categories of prominence.
I agree with Porter that polarization and gridlock are core impediments to resolving these problems. But I see no solutions coming from either the Democrats or the Republicans that could change things. Systemic changes to governance and politics that would redefine the role of government are needed to reverse the declining trends, and that means major constitutional change.
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