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There has long been a debate on the left between those who support universal programs of economic uplift — or providing certain goods as universal rights rather than as commodities, such as health care— and those who favor targeted efforts aimed at particular populations.
It’s a debate that often divides candidates within the broadly left-leaning Democratic Party, and certainly tends to manifest among its more progressive wing.
Even within this division, there are divisions.
Some who support universal programs actually mean universal for all in financial need, as opposed to programs aimed at various groups like people of color or the elderly.
Others mean universal as in everyone — programs like free public college tuition for all, or universal basic income, or single-payer health care for all, covered by general revenues collected by the government in the form of taxes.
For the sake of argument, let’s call these the limited universal, unlimited universal, and target-specific schools of thought. Proponents on all sides have what they consider strong and logical arguments.
