The government interacts with the private sector very closely. With rules, regulations, subsidies, and side deals there is plenty of interaction going on. One of my biggest gripes with government is that it has grown too big and has too much control. Government always thinks that it has the best solutions to everything. Solutions that are so wide ranging it is almost mind boggling; Health Care, Environment, Poverty, Housing, Food, Farming, Economy, Unemployment, Education and Retirement to list a few.
The sad thing is, is that nobody ever looks at the results of the so called solutions to our Nation’s problems that government has offered. If one corporation was in charge, or tried to be in charge, of what the government tries to control, they would be deemed evil, money hungry rich people, only looking out for them, and trying to control people. For some reason many look past all this and pretend that this big corporation known as the government is really good for people. Maybe they believe this because the federal government has what seems like a bottomless wallet with a never ending supply of money. Some people like this because government can steal from the rich and give to the poor. I don’t know the reasons but people should take time to examine the results of government intervention and not just its intentions.
Many times when government gets involved in business, it starts picking winners and losers. Why were some banks rescued and some allowed to fail? Why do corn farmers receive government subsidies but barley farmers don’t? Why is the government giving incentives for citizens to purchase certain types of vehicles but not others? Why is the government allowed to run a Ponzi scheme called Social Security but they lock up Bernie Madoff in prison for doing the same thing? (Not saying what he did was correct, but why has the government not thrown itself in prison?)
Usually when the government gets involved with the private sector, as it does, it starts working on bribes. The government needs to provide over-site protection of the private sector. It needs to prevent the private sector from doing to the citizens of this country what the government is doing anyway. It needs to stop picking winners and losers and needs to give up control over many industries.
The government does what it can when it can. So are you saying that we shouldn't have all of the government programs that are out there today? WIC, Social Services, oh and don't forget about the schools, police and fire department that are funded by local government. How would you suggest that we pay for these items? Should all schools, police and fire departements be privitized? Then what, we are looking at the haves and the have nots. The haves will have everything, the best schools, the best fire departments and the have nots will be burning the schools down and looting it.
ReplyDeleteNow I am not a person that follows politics all the time, in fact I try to stay away from it as much as possible but I don't think that our government is doing that much worse than any other government. Sure we could improve but can't everyone?
If a government program is not working then yes, it should be eliminated. What is the point of trying something over and over and over and expecting a different result. Is that not the definition of insanity. In 1964, when the war on poverty was declared, the poverty level in 1968 was 13%. From 1968 to 1980 there was a 400% increase in social welfare payments. In 1980, all the money that had been spent to fight the war on poverty for the previous 22 years resulted in a poverty level of.....13%. No change, zero!!! The government should not be involved with keeping people in poverty but rather trying to get them out of poverty. Do you know of any business model that would keep throwing money at something with zero results. I don't, except the government models.
ReplyDeleteIf it works then good, if it does not, the solution is not to throw more money on it. I also want people of this country to have a choice and options. If somebody wants to contribute to Social Security then they can, if they don't then they should not have to. Same goes for public education. If a parent wants to send his student to private school he should not be forced to pay for his sons/daughters private school and pay for public schools as well. Competition is a good thing.
On a side note, yes I believe the department of education should be gotten rid off and power returned to the state levels when it comes to education.