It's a few times I hear a few emboldened (in the context of power returning to the Democrats) leftists (let's call them that) claim the belief in small government, less taxes and individual liberty as being "stale" ideas.
As opposed to bloated bureaucracies and inefficient welfare monstrosities that have created a society dependent on government? The trend is to go this route. Which, in turn, reminds me of 1984.
Some things never go out of style. Take a Ferrari. Are Ferrari's out of date? No. They are reinvented. Redesigned to meet contemporary sensibilities.
The message of smaller, efficient government and social advancement predicated on people progressing freely is one that can easily connect from generation to generation. It's the best way to ensure concepts of responsibility and accountability remains at the personal level. Passing off our duties as citizens to government and its endless forests of departments and offices is a cop out. We will always be disappointed in its results. Better to face our flaws and vices dead on.
I'm skeptical that a social contract between government and individuals can ever truly be an equitable partnership.
That being said, government is here to stay. It's a fact of our existence. We just have to remain diligent and vigilant its power does not continue to erode our freedoms - our essence.
When I listen to people turn to government I don't hear a voice that believes in the power of the people. I hear a voice that believes people need to live vicariously through government.
And that's the real stench of staleness.
First I agree that, as is the case with all powers, government or otherwise, we have to remain vigilant that they do not erode our freedoms.
ReplyDeleteBut the same is true of all powers, for instance huge global corporations that now have practical monopoly over a given sector with the ability to dictate their conditions on us.
Not to mention the fact the the governments in the first place are more and more agents of those corporations.
I don't want to enter here in a discussion about big bloated governments but suffice it to mention that such governments in France and Sweden for instance have considerably bettered the lives of citizens by much better health care, child care, just to mention those 2.
Francois, you're absolutely right about corporations and their threat to democracy. It swings both ways and conservatives have discussed this.
ReplyDeleteAs for the welfare state, well, perhaps but the tax burden in those societies are way too heavy. In fact, in Sweden, the system is becoming untenable.