Government's Role?

For those who want more government, here is something to think about. When government creates government jobs, we must remember they are not jobs that create or generate money. Every time the government creates another government agency it must have an equitable response in the private sector.

Let me explain. Since government jobs are solely dependent upon jobs in the private sector for income as a result of taxation, then every time government creates a job within itself then there must be a creation of multiple jobs in the private sector to support it. Herein lies the problem. When government is creating jobs within itself outpacing the growth of employment in the private sector, you then have the inevitable of raising taxes on everyone. Government then becomes larger and the people become financially oppressed, economic growth comes to a standstill, government portrays itself as the answer when in fact they are the problem.

It is not the government’s role to create jobs. It is the private sector’s responsibility. It’s interesting that government is the one who has stifled job growth by it’s over burdening in taxation and regulations and now wants to come in and save the day by creating jobs. This is an amazing concept. I create a problem, and then I create the solution. What’s more amazing is, the solution is more taxation and regulation and somehow what has created the crisis will miraculously become the solution. I thought about this and came up with an illustration. I tell my son “I expect ten bushels of beans out of this garden, but you can’t plant within twenty feet of the stream, ten feet of the fence, and ten feet of the yard.” My son says, “Dad, I can’t get ten bushels of beans if you expect all of these regulations to be obeyed.” I reply “that’s ok son, I have the solution, don’t plant within thirty feet of the stream, fifteen feet of the fence, and twenty feet of the yard.” My son looks at me dumbfounded and leaves scratching his head at this load of wisdom. I must admit, I feel like my son in this story when it comes to our federal government. Referring to the eighties, some people called it the decade of greed; I called it capitalism at its finest. Government downsized, deregulation happened, tax cuts took effect, and a funny thing happened – business prospered and jobs were created by the private sector. How, you may ask. Government got out of the way! Ronald Reagan said it best “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, 'I'm from the government and I'm here to help.”

“A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul” - George Bernard Shaw

When man fell in the garden, he became self-centered and self-conscience instead of being God-conscience. Therefore, it is man’s tendency to gravitate towards things that satisfy himself at the expense of others. When a nation’s political leaders look at politics as a career, then security of that position becomes a priority. Conviction of principles will become compromised when financial security, and the intoxication of people’s opinion come in conflict with them. It takes a strong moral disciplined person to resist the temptations of a political life. As a result of a lack of moral stimuli in many politicians today; they are willing to sell the future of this nation at the expense of the present. This brings us to the timeless truth that George Bernard Shaw spoke many years ago, “A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.” Irresponsible and selfish politicians will play on the whims of an irresponsible and selfish citizenry to keep itself in power. The problem is that eventually you will run out of enough Peter’s to pay all the Paul’s. As parents do with children; you have to do what is right regardless of their crying. Children are immature and irresponsible thus they only live for the present gratification while totally ignoring the future consequences. America is turning into a quagmire of adolescence. Free handouts are now looked at as a right and most people think government exists to provide these freebies. I think I remember a president once saying, “Ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country.” 

I don't think people realize how dangerous this situation in America truly is. It cannot sustain the current path it is on. Something must change! That change will have to begin at the home and not in Congress or the White House. This problem didn't start in Washington, it started in the homes of America. Everybody screamed at the removal of prayer from our schools. However, let's be honest, it left the homes long before the schools. We need to teach our children responsibility, ethics, morals, and a renewed sense of national pride again. America needs to return to its biblical foundation and once again fulfill:  

 2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

The irresponsible behavior of children not corrected by parents eventually become the future political generation. The blame game, and throwing the responsibility off on each other in government in their meager attempts at being the innocent compassionate person or party, is laughable until you realize their indecisiveness costs us money.  The following story seems appropriate when pondering on the behavior of our government. 

Consider this story told by Bernard L. Brown, Jr., president of the Kennestone Regional Health Care System in the state of Georgia.

Brown once worked in a hospital where a patient knocked over a cup of water, which spilled on the floor beside the patient's bed. The patient was afraid he might slip on the water if he got out of the bed, so he asked a nurse's aide to mop it up. The patient didn't know it, but the hospital policy said that small spills were the responsibility of the nurse's aides while large spills were to be mopped up by the hospital's housekeeping group.

The nurse's aide decided the spill was a large one and she called the housekeeping department. A housekeeper arrived and declared the spill a small one. An argument followed.

"It's not my responsibility," said the nurse's aide, "because it's a large puddle." The housekeeper did not agree. "Well, it's not mine," she said, "the puddle is too small."

The exasperated patient listened for a time, then took a pitcher of water from his night table and poured the whole thing on the floor. "Is that a big enough puddle now for you two to decide?" he asked. It was, and that was the end of the argument. 

Bits & Pieces, September 16, 1993, p. 22-24.

Reuben Egolf

Leading Nations