This grew from a comment I left on Niall’s blog, but I think it really sums up my stance towards government. The metaphor is fairly general, but it can be applied to many individual issues:
“As the burden of the government’s yolk increases, we transfer more of our economic and personal freedoms to those at the reins. Those at the reins increase the load on our backs hoping that it will make the burden easier to carry. If the burden does not break us, then eventually it will become too large for ourselves and even our masters to remove.”
And like Dennis Prager always says, I prefer clarity to agreement. Anyone else want to concisely sum up their philosophy?
There’s a lot of truth in that. The government rarely asks the question “how can we do LESS?” It’s like larger government is the only option…and it’s not.
Very much agreed with this quote.
Is there a way for government to be involved and not spend money? I mean, they COULD be doing a lot of great things, like breaking up insurance and medical industry monopolies, lowering term lengths for people in public offices (like that would ever happen), and other things of this nature. Sadly, it seems that no one can lift a finger or say a word without spending our money.
Been reading a lot about this proposed form of government: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demarchy . What do you guys think about that? In theory it could break up the incumbent corruption that plagues D.C. and so many states today.
Ah, but you also have to ask what SHOULD the government be doing according to the Constitution. If we broadly interpret the Constitution we end up with more government and more bureaucracy, definitely not less.
excellent quote. i think the most concise way i can sum up my feelings on gov’t is that “people get the government they deserve.” this is clearly evidenced in the deterioration of liberties happening in the United States, while clearly no-one is paying attention.