Advocates for limited government are accused of wanting no government. It’s a straw man
argument that in essence says we must keep every little piece of government or
nothing at all. Limited government advocates do not want to eliminate all
government, they only want to return government to its rightful place.
The Founders
didn’t fear powerful government because they hated government; they feared
powerful governments because they threaten liberty. This has been true
throughout history. The more power government wields, the more it dictates the
daily activities of its citizens. Big government doesn’t sometimes oppress.
Sooner or later, big government always oppresses.
Today, many
people believe the government should take care of them. The government should
right every wrong and insure a fair distribution of necessities. The sad truth
is that making sure everyone has shelter, food, health care, training or
education, protection against disability or unemployment, and a risk-free
retirement is expensive. Government services in excess of national income can
work for a long time—decades even. Basically, it’s a sly way of buying votes
with the next generation’s money. Unfortunately, it can’t last. Once the interest
on the borrowed money starts claiming a big piece of the current budget, the
responsibly can no longer be foisted onto the next generation, and the fiscal
charade begins to crumble.
