In my latest poll, I asked what the proper role of government is, and deliberately slanted the answers to coincide with certain political party views. The results of the poll surprised me, and if you voted in the poll, this fact may well surprise you.
Much to my surprise, most people voted Neither in the poll, that they don’t believe government has a place either in people’s pocketbooks or their bedrooms. This corresponds most closely to the libertarian philosophy.
Contrast this to the usual philosophies espoused by the Republican and Democratic parties, also represented in the poll. I’ll let you guess which was which.
There’s also a new poll up. Enjoy!
| 26% | To regulate the economy |
| 1% | To regulate people’s lives |
| 7% | Both |
| 66% | Neither |
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marcus aurelius
Feb 23, 2006
Interestingly enough the Minnesota GOP party platform sought to end one form of local governemnt intrusion when it inserted this language in the platform:
“The Republican Party believes that proper stewardship of our natural resources and agricultural lands will best be achieved through sound science and adherence to Constitutionally guaranteed property rights. Therefore, we support:
S. Opposing any state or local adoption of a smoking ban on privately owned restaurants and bars”. (found at the bottom of page 7 of the pdf file below)
Anonymous
Feb 26, 2006
The role that government works best at is Infrastructure! The government is the one that is most able to fund and construct roads, regulate electric, communication grids, and commercial air and sea traffic. It also provides money for education, insure quality control inspections of food and medical products, as well as a representative conduit for international commerce and protection, and maintain stewardship of infrastructures in perpetuity. Government also serves to keep business from becoming too big and monopolizing markets or forcing people into indentured servitude by monopolizing vital products, like food, water resources, monetary exchanges, etc., or compromise individual civil liberties for the privilege to simply exist.
Government also effectively serves in mobilizing work forces on a large scale to either build infrastructures or maintain them, or in disaster preparedness. (In the case of disaster preparedness, FEMA could have been effective had domestic infrastructure been a priority). The WPA and the CCC where prime examples in the past of how these government infrastructure programs worked reasonably well when private industry couldn’t during the depression. The Forest Service, the Center for Disease Control, and the Food and Drug Administration are examples of infrastructure stewardship programs.
Government is best at scientific research, since most in private industry are geared solely to producing profits from a commodity, but rarely have the inclination or consolidated resources to pursue research for better products on their own.
Health care in some countries is considered apart of the public infrastructure and despite some drawbacks, works reasonably well. However, America is still struggling to adopt this philosophy. The consequences of not having government control has allowed the price of health care to soar beyond the means of many to pay, even for those with health insurance!
The one thing that the government has proven good at is military defense. Despite some command problems, we have a very effective military, considered the best in the world. Now if we could only extend that to quality to the domestic infrastructure that would benefit Americans in whole terms.
Michael Hampton
Feb 26, 2006
I can’t tell where you are, since you’re on AOL, but that at least means you’re in the same United States as I am — I think.
Unfortunately, you bring up so many issues, and are completely mistaken on all of them, that it would take me several hours to explain why for each and every one.
So this is just to let you know there will be a follow-up shortly, which explains exactly why you’re mistaken, and that government is not only not the best way, but is the worst way, for each and every issue you raised.
Ray Bronfman
Feb 27, 2006
Well, if so mistaken, then let’s look at nations where governments do not support the infrastructure, who are weak and corrupt, where big business rules. Nigeria, Chad, Liberia, Hauti, and Paraguay, and Mexico are a few excellent examples of what you are suggesting if you feel government don’t need to be in infrastructure roles. I could add a couple more countries, like Afganistan, Bangledesh, or maybe something closer to home, like the state of Louisiana or West Virginia as examples where government doesn’t get much involved. Now, can you cite a country that isn’t like these where the government is totally out of the infrastructure business and things operate well?
Michael Hampton
Feb 27, 2006
Infrastructure is on the list of topics to be discussed in the new Liberty 101 series, which began today and will probably continue until I have finished addressing all of the anonymous commenter’s issues.
However, it’s one of the most complex issues, as you’re likely aware, and therefore will probably come near the end of the series. It’s also a hotly debated issue, even among libertarians. Anyway, I’ll get into that, but you’ll have to stay tuned!
Richard
Feb 28, 2006
Well, anyone who thinks that Nigeria, Chad, Liberia, Haiti, Paraguay, etc., are examples of “where government doesn’t get much involved” is so woefully ignorant of comparative government and the state of the world in general that he can only be pitied.
Jun 10, 2006
Liberty 101: An introduction to liberty - Homeland Stupidity