{"id":32,"date":"2012-05-18T08:40:31","date_gmt":"2012-05-18T15:40:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/?p=32"},"modified":"2020-05-25T21:29:28","modified_gmt":"2020-05-26T04:29:28","slug":"is-government-the-answer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/is-government-the-answer\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Government the Answer?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Is Government the Answer?<\/span>
\nFor many things yes<\/strong>, government is<\/strong><\/em> the answer.\u00a0 It provides for the common good, protects us from our enemies, even from our fellow citizens.\u00a0 Helps provide order; prevent chaos, a safety net for the poor, for those that are unable to fend for themselves.\u00a0 It does a great many things that can reasonably be accomplished in no other way. \u00a0But does it try to do too much?<\/em> <\/strong><\/span>and in \u00a0doing so, does it crowd out the innovation of the private sector? \u00a0In trying to do more, does it insure that we get and keep less?<\/p>\n

There is little question but that the government and our leaders generally try to do the right thing… But remember, there is nothing that government ever does<\/em> or gives<\/em> that did not take from someone else.\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/span> By the defnition, the more the government does with one hand, the more it must take with the other.<\/strong> <\/em><\/span>Our government takes from our left pocket puts part of it in our right pocket and we feel grateful…<\/p>\n

So much of the taxes we are paying are hidden in the price, that the government is becoming like a clever con man and we the naive dupes. .\u00a0\u00a0 We always see what it does, (the bridge, the building, government jobs), but we rarely see the damge\u00a0that was done<\/em>.\u00a0 i.e. the unintended consequences; the jobs that were lost due to being taxed or regulated out of business.\u00a0 The Jobs that were never created because the weight of regulation dissuaded the “boss” from even starting the business.\u00a0 How\u00a0tough is it?\u00a0 Try to open a lemonade stand!\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Government is good.\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/span> It is necessary, but in trying to do\u00a0 ALL and protect ALL from Everything<\/em>, the result is that it hurts everyone<\/em>.\u00a0<\/span> It slows economic growth, prevents job creation, encourages government dependency, changes who we are as individuals and as a nation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Many will disagree with what I’ve said above.\u00a0 If so, just honestly\u00a0ask…<\/span><\/p>\n

Does<\/em> Government have limits?\u00a0 Can it\u00a0or should it, try to solve ALL problems?<\/em><\/span>\u00a0 Does it ever violate the law of unintended consequences?\u00a0 In trying to do good in one area, can it unleash a greater harm<\/em> somewhere else?\u00a0 Is it really the government that spurs economic growth, create jobs for societal economic well being?<\/p>\n

Many think that the answer is always more government jobs; more government employees, more people working, spending money, spurring the economy, etc\u2026\u00a0 \u00a0That sounds reasonable, but<\/em><\/strong> if more government funded\u00a0jobs are good for the economy, why don\u2019t we all just work for the feds or the state?<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span> That\u2019s basically what the USSR did.\u00a0 If I remember right, they folded.<\/p>\n

Or… does that economic philosophy bring into play the law of unintended and even unseen consequences?\u00a0 In creating a job for Bill (that we all see and applaud<\/em><\/span>), does it unintentionally and unseen, destroy the job of Angela and Tom?<\/span><\/p>\n

Is government really the engine of economic growth or is its most beneficial function to get out of the way and let the entrepreneurial drive of individuals create new businesses and more jobs?<\/p>\n

What is the role of government?\u00a0 Is it to guarantee equal opportunity for all? Or is it to guarantee that we all have equal results?\u00a0\u00a0 Is it to guarantee cradle to grave security?\u00a0 But, doesn’t that ultimately, diminish the dignity of the individual, sap their sense of personal responsibility by creating a deep personal dependency on government assistance?\u00a0 (And who is really paying for that?)\u00a0 <\/span><\/em>Isn’t that what’s happening in Europe right now?\u00a0 Spain, Greece?<\/span>\u00a0 The governments can’t sustain their entitlement spending and much of the populace has lost their independence.\u00a0 Are we headed there?\u00a0 Is that really where we want to go?\u00a0 Do we want\u00a0a system in which we are\u00a0all either dependent on the government or those of us who decide to work are all\u00a0trapped in equal economic\u00a0mediocrity?\u00a0\u00a0Equality of result rather than equality of opportunity?<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Assuming we DID<\/em> want government mandated equality of result,\u00a0is it even actually possible?<\/em><\/span>\u00a0 Could it even be sustained?\u00a0 What does history say?\u00a0 It\u2019s been tried in the USSR and many other socialistic governments.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The result is always eventually\u00a0<\/em>the same; a HUGE disparity of wealth, privilege and power for a few.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But, isn’t that what we have in the US?\u00a0 NO!\u00a0 We have different results, but in the vast majority of cases, we have similar opportunity.<\/em>\u00a0 In the US, the common man, at least, \u00a0has the opportunity<\/em><\/strong> to better their lives\u00a0by working for it and\u00a0EARNING it… in the alternative system,\u00a0status and “accomplishment”\u00a0is virtually ALWAYS bestowed through birth or stolen through force. \u00a0Is that really better?<\/p>\n

Opportunity vs Equality<\/strong><\/span>
\nEach world view has many brilliant people that support it. \u00a0I happen to believe that equal opportunity with a social safety net is preferable to attempting to create a society that forces equality of result. \u00a0Centralized government making all decisions and taking care of everyone is simply ineffective. \u00a0I rarely doubt the nobility of the objectives, I simply see the history of results.<\/p>\n

First off, in the history of humanity it has never<\/strong> properly worked.<\/em>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0We’ve seen the failed results of the USSR and Cuba. \u00a0We are seeing it now in the bloated government of Greece, wherein, they are on the verge of collapse due to the incredible overspending as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). \u00a0(the fact is that the US is fast approaching a similar proportion of debt to GNP… this does not bode well). \u00a0Government can’t do it all… and when it tries, it fails and usually makes things worse.<\/p>\n

Government vs Private Solutions<\/strong><\/span>
\nContrast the plight of North Korea vs South Korea; in the north, everything is controlled by the government, people are basically property of and “taken care of” by the state. \u00a0It can’t even feed itself.<\/em> \u00a0Then look to South Korea, same geography, same resources, same opportunities… the only relevant striking difference between the two?<\/em><\/span> \u00a0In one, the engine of progress is government, in the other, it’s the individual.<\/p>\n

In North Korea, the state runs everything… and fails. \u00a0Whereas, in South Korea, the government is limited,\u00a0capitalism\u00a0thrives and so does it’s people and economy. \u00a0Is it perfect? \u00a0Of course not! \u00a0But the differences between the two identically positioned countries is beyond staggering. \u00a0Night time satellite pictures of the 2 countries show the north as virtually blacked out, the south looks like a Christmas tree! \u00a0See the following satellite picture. \u00a0Can you guess which is which?<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"The<\/a>
Korea at Night<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

That is the difference between a society controlled by a centralized government that thinks it knows best, how to do everything, has all the solutions and makes all the decisions\u00a0vs<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>a system fueled via free enterprise where progress within the society is the result of the decisions, choices, ingenuity and innovations of MILLIONS of free individuals. \u00a0The genius of the US is derived not from\u00a0bureaucrats\u00a0but rather from individual citizens. \u00a0 History shows that more government takes control, the less free and productive citizens become.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

What About China?<\/em><\/span><\/strong>
\nAbject failure had even been\u00a0occurring\u00a0with our “banker”, China. \u00a0 Economic stagnation was the norm even in China\u00a0until some farmers illegally “experimented” with the right to “reap what you sow” i.e. capitalizm..<\/em>.<\/p>\n

One day in 1978, the farmers got together and came up with a plan to illegally divide the farms up into plots; they all had to give food to the collective, but the farmers that met a certain quota could keep some food for themselves. They then signed a secret contract formalizing the agreement, and included a clause saying that in the event a farmer got arrested for the practice, the other villagers would raise their children. The result of this risky enterprise that season\u2019s harvest was more than the previous five years combined<\/em>. \u00a0<\/span><\/strong>Capitalism in action!<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

When the government eventually got wind of what they were doing, the farmers were hauled in front of officials; but since you can\u2019t argue with results, the government decided that instead of punishment, they deserved praise. \u00a0That was the beginning of the economic powerhouse that we now see today<\/em><\/span>. \u00a0It wasn’t what government did, it was what they stopped doing… THEY GOT OUT OF THE WAY! \u00a0 \u00a0Here is the difference, the incredible growth when it was controlled by people, not government…<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\"Less<\/a>
Government in action<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The graph shows decades of stagnation that continued until the experiment. \u00a0What do you think this graph would look like if the\u00a0bureaucrats still micro manged the economy? \u00a0Shouldn’t our leaders take hint?<\/p>\n

Fairness<\/span><\/strong>
\nBut equality of result vs equality of opportunity, doesn’t that lead to unfairness? \u00a0Wouldn’t that\u00a0mean some would have less and some would have more?\u00a0 Some would be rich,\u00a0would be poor? \u00a0Yes<\/span><\/strong><\/em>, but shouldn’t I be able to work 20 hours a day, to give my family a better life? \u00a0If I do so, \u00a0is it really “unfair” that I actually have more than my neighbor whose idea of a rough day is watching an “Oprah” marathon?<\/p>\n

Throughout the ages it has been known and taught that “we reap what we sow”.<\/em><\/span>
\nHistory shows that when we reap\u00a0less<\/em>\u00a0<\/strong>of what we sow, we sow less<\/em>. \u00a0That doesn’t make us bad or lazy… just human.<\/p>\n

As was stated by one of the original Chinese “capitalist” farmers<\/span> Yen Jingchang…<\/em>
\n \u201cWork hard, don\u2019t work hard \u2014 everyone gets the same,\u201d he says. \u201cSo people don\u2019t want to work.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

If the system changes so that we reap, whether or not we even get out of bed, won’t most stop “sowing”?<\/em> \u00a0If we receive the same reward regardless of our effort, won’t most do less?<\/p>\n

This may seem or at least feel good for that individual, but it is CANCER to the society. \u00a0<\/em>That is what happened in the USSR, Cuba, N. Korea,\u00a0was<\/em>\u00a0happening in China and is happening now in Greece and other European countries. \u00a0Quite frankly, the US is heading down that road.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Simply put, history has shown that wealthier, more productive societies are created when individuals have the “right” to succeed, to progress and to become “unequal”. \u00a0 I believe that as a society, we always need a safety net… but we also need opportunity.<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The questions of where this nation decides to go and the path\u00a0<\/em><\/strong>we attempt to take are of monumental importance!\u00a0 Where we go will not<\/em> be determined by what we try and hope<\/strong><\/em><\/span> to do.\u00a0 Unfortunately, hope just doesn’t cut it<\/em>.\u00a0 It will be determined by the actual decisions we make.<\/p>\n

Decisions always have both intended<\/em> and unintended consequences<\/em><\/strong>.\u00a0 It’s up to each of us to analyze and make sure that we know what they are.\u00a0 Regardless of our most noble desires and intended\u00a0destination, if we choose the wrong path, we can still go over a cliff.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

As a county, nation, people and world, we have some decisions to make.\u00a0 Quite frankly, the way that we, as a society answer them\u00a0will determine what kind of lives and futures our children and their children will have<\/em>.\u00a0 We all want the best and brightest possible future for ourselves, our families and friends.<\/p>\n

But we have no choice…\u00a0 WE WILL live and experience the consequences of our decisions<\/em>.\u00a0 This is true of us as individuals and it is true of us\u00a0as a nation.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0We have some decisions to make\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

I have a Question for you… Assuming you had the power… What do you do?<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Is Government the Answer? For many things yes, government is the answer.\u00a0 It provides for the common good, protects us from our enemies, even from our fellow citizens.\u00a0 Helps provide order; prevent chaos, a safety net for the poor, for those that are unable to fend for themselves.\u00a0 It does a great many things that […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":142,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[4,5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-economics-101","category-politics"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/KoreaAtNight.jpg","jetpack-related-posts":[],"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2EGlL-w","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32"}],"version-history":[{"count":31,"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30913,"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32\/revisions\/30913"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/142"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/allsolutionsnetwork.org\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}