Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems like there are two general groupings - and I know there are the in-between or outside the groups people. But generally, it seems like people either think:
- government is the problem
or
- government is the solution
And with that basis, we either want more government influence in our lives or less.
Just curious which side you guys fall on and why...
Anyone?
1 comment:
It's not quite that simple a choice for me. I'm trying to come up with the reasons why. I guess for me it depends on what “government” you’re talking about and upon something else that will take a bit to get to.
I have traditionally been in favor of a strong central federal government taking control and providing services. Infrastructure, for example. I think the power (and money) of a centralized federal system favors better across-the-country roads, bridges, regulation of fundamental services like water and electricity, etc. I think a centralized regulation system of either monopolized industries (utilities, for example) or safety-central areas (air and rail travel, for example) works much better, because there is either not a "free" market (we don't REALLY get to choose from where we get our electricity for example, so there's no outside check on that service like the free market) or because we have a national, fundamental interest in the outcome (safe air travel, for example). I also have found that a centralized federal system of, say, the federal courts, works a lot better than our local system. And I never had a problem with the federal government providing the original welfare--meaning a safety net for people who, in incredibly rough times like the Depression or war, were not able to provide for themselves. I don't trust people to help other people, I suppose.
On the other hand, I have always been a staunch opponent of government being in my private business. I don't think the government should get to tell me how I worship or if I do, whom I marry, with whom I associate, what organizations I join, etc. Those fundamental Bill of Rights things--I believe strongly in those. More strongly than I believe in my money. Which is why, historically, I have favored a strong, centralized, federal government to keep crazy locals from getting into my personal business (a hangup from the meddling busybodies who ran local governments in my past).
I have traditionally been in favor, then, of a strong federal government for the purposes of (a) providing centralized infrastructure-like services and nationalistic interests (military) and (b) protecting our personal, federally-recognized freedoms (like finally recognizing that, you know, slavery was antithetical to our constitutional mandates).
On the other hand, I have never been impressed with what I see coming from local governments, generally speaking. There seems to be a lot more hysteria- and reactionary-driven legislation that comes out of local governments, probably because there is such easy access to governmental leaders. I am thoroughly unimpressed particularly by Oklahoma—where I have higher taxes than I’ve had anywhere and can’t for the life of me figure out where my money goes. I’ve never been in a state where we had to have philanthropists and non-millage donations from the public to prop up the school system so that the public schools could start on time. I see an enormous amount of waste, and an absence of service, despite what we’re paying.
What it really boils down to, though, is that I used to trust governmental officials---particularly in the federal government—to do the right thing more than your general populace. So I have been fine with giving up my money so we could have that protection. I am no longer convinced that most people—governmental servants or regular citizens—are out for anything other than their own interests. I wish there were more citizens like Judge Urbom—the senior federal judge I used to work for. He is a true public servant, working at all times for the good of the people he serves. He used to say, “Don’t do anything that you wouldn’t want to see on the front page of the paper.” And he lives his life that way, with full recognition, acceptance, and appreciation of the responsibility he holds. If more of our elected officials still had that idealism of service—instead of the self-interested nonsense that seems to permeate everything, I would continue in my former beliefs. As it stands, I think there’s not anyone—not a community or a government—that is watching out for my best interests.
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