The Role of Government

Today’s debate involves the role of government.  On the right, the call is for smaller government, lower taxes, and fewer regulations.  The right claims that policies that result in smaller government, lower taxes, and fewer regulations will benefit the economy and help all Americans.  While economic history does not support this claim, the right continues to march to this drummer.  One question they continually ignore is how these policies actually benefit Americans.  Private business has not been very effective in controlling the fires in the west.  Private business has not helped easing the devastation of the floods in the south.  Private business also has not been very effective in improving the education of our children.  While private business will eventually profit from the aforementioned disasters and will profit from privatizing education, private business will not do any of these things for those who cannot afford to pay the costs and fees assessed by private business.  It is a fact that smaller government fails to put out fires, protect us from floods, or keep our neighborhoods safe.  What’s more, those calling for smaller government do not raise their voices when they are personally benefiting from government largess.  When the debate whether federal flood insurance programs should include second homes, those on the right (who own the most second homes) insisted on this inclusion.  When the debate involves various tax benefits, exemptions, and exclusions for investment income and other non-wage income, the biggest beneficiaries (again, those on the right) call for the continuation of these benefits.  The voices for smaller government say nothing about the true SOCIALIZED programs that benefit corporate farms, sugar and corn producers, and other agriculture subsidies. Finally, to hear Romney and other spokes-persons on the right, people with various government jobs such as teachers, police, and firefighters are not deserving of either their jobs or the wages and benefits that go with these jobs.   There is a vital role of government and it is time to recognize and be willing to pay the costs of competent government.  For too long, the “smaller government” voices have failed to call for competent government and the time has come to increase the demand for the most competent rather than the cheapest government or smallest government at all levels.