Friday, April 9, 2010

Of Course Government is Broken


The image of the benevolent politician working tirelessly for the public good still makes some of us feel all warm inside, like when we think of Santa Clause or our childhood days.

But like those warm conjurings, it is at best a distant memory or at worse a complete fantasy that never was.  Mr. Smith has left the building.

D. W. MacKenzie has brilliantly summed up my thoughts on politics and government
American politics is not broken: it is working in the dysfunctional way that it should be working, given its unwieldy size and scope.

What may be breaking are naïve idealistic beliefs that politicians can use a large and intrusive government to serve "the people." And the demise of such beliefs would be a good thing.
The Solution?  A Strictly Limited Constitutional Government
We certainly should not give bureaucrats power over healthcare — or any other commercial industry for that matter.

There is, however, a third option. Strictly limited constitutional government is relatively immune to both special interests and ideologues. Constitutional government limited to providing internal and external security can be evaluated by objective criteria.[4]

A return to limited government would, of course, mean much greater reliance on private enterprise and unhampered markets. The record of private institutions is, when carefully examined, strong.[5]  Source:  (Mises-MacKenzie)

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Until the day we stop the philosophy "spend it this year, so we can allocate it in addition for next year's budget" ...local/state gov taking care of golf parks, community pools, gov employee "private" clinics, gov funded hospitals, etc. we will continue to bankrupt the gov. Gov needs to stick to defense (fed and local) and mail delivery.

LSP said...

I'm constantly amazed that people think "the state" is somehow interested in their personal well-being. As though it were a human being. I'm with you - limit it.

Silverfiddle said...

Right on Parson and Anon: Politicians are only interested in wielding power and keeping their snouts in the government-corporate trough.

They do that by bribing us with our own money. You see it. I see it. Why can't everyone else see it?

Most Rev. Gregori said...

It would be great if the Supreme Court would come to realize that the Constitution does NOT give any sitting president the right or the power to change or alter our form or system of government from a Constitutional Republic and a capitalist system into a Socialist/Marxist system. They(the Supreme Court) have the power under our system of checks and balances to stop what is happening.

If I am wrong please show me where I am wrong.

Always On Watch said...

Our present administration has such a disconnect from the will of WE THE PEOPLE.

There's a lot of anger out there. A lot!

The only way now to curb that anger is to return to the principles of limited government.

The next two years will decide the ultimate direction of America, IMO. Perilous times for the preservation of freedom!

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