Over the last several years a growing number of Americans have been convinced by repetitive rhetoric and propaganda that their country is failing, that we must “drain the swamp” remove the bureaucracy, eliminate departments of government, even that those who work for us are communists.
They oppose regulation and want less government because somehow our government limits our freedom – to do what is unclear.
It’s like Kool-Aid packets have been spread across the country and millions are eagerly drinking because they have found a supposed easier way for themselves and a system to blame.
The thing is government regulation comes about mostly as a result of people and organizations doing stupid or harmful things – like polluting our rivers and food, or selling dangerous products or ripping others off.
Freedom? Well we have it in abundance, far more than most people in the world in fact. But freedom is not unlimited and never has been. In a organized society there must be consideration for every member.
Should I have the freedom to drive while drunk or shoot a gun in my backyard? Should I be free to not carry health insurance, but expect society to foot the bill? Should I be free to take illegal drugs when there are likely consequences to others? Should I be free to not pay taxes, but demand a safe neighborhood?
Exactly what is this freedom we don’t have that millions claim they need? Before jumping on the bandwagon, I think it is important to know.
Is a government in a country of 330 million people, 50 states and a continent wide always efficient, well managed, financially prudent, effective, even fair? Of course not, and neither is every household in America.
Our government is not a thing, it’s millions of people, our friends, neighbors, perhaps relatives- good people, bad people, smart people and not so smart. That will never change and anyone who tells you they will change it and you believe them, you are a fool.
How much less do you want from government, want do you want to do on your own with the freedom you seek?
Perhaps we do away with our interstate road system, sell off national parks, stop social security checks, eliminate Medicare and Medicaid, stop wasting money on VA education benefits. Stop subsidies of all kinds including for those who grow our food. Close the EPA and hope every person, every company always does the right thing with your welfare in mind.
Sadly, it is a myth that we are all responsible, act prudently, can fend for ourselves and don’t need anyone or any government for support.
Those who promise a new kind of individual freedom from government are naive or charlatans and seek not your freedom, but their control of it.
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
I don’t understand how a party who wants less government in your life endorses a government that tells you what medical care you can get–in spite of what your doctor thinks you need, or who you can sleep with, what books you can read, what religion you can follow. I want less government in my life. But I do want protection against drunk drivers, corporations who ignore public safety so they can make a profit, and consumer fraud. That’s the role of government.
LikeLike
“… They oppose regulation and want less government because somehow our government limits our freedom – to do what is unclear. …”
Madison knows what they want.
James Madison, Federalist 62: “It will be of little avail to the people that the laws are made by men of their own choice if the laws be so voluminous that they cannot be read, or so incoherent that they cannot be understood.” He asserted that law is “a rule of action, … but how can that be a rule, which is little known, and less fixed?”
Read many laws and regulations lately? I have. How about the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 – It contains 197 titles and 8 divisions, spends $2.3 Trillion dollars. Any idea what is in there?
Or, perhaps the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2022 – It includes 128 titles and 18 amendments, and spends $1.5 Trillion dollars. What’s on page 1064? (Hint: It is part of DIVISION FF—AVAILABILITY OF TRAVEL PROMOTION FUND FOR BRAND USA) …
Yes, it is the appropriation of $50MM to promote travel to the US. Section 101(d) provides:
“… (d) USE OF FUNDS.—Brand USA may only use funds provided under subsection (b) to promote travel from countries whose citizens and nationals are permitted to enter the United States. …”
The “rule of law” is certainly under attack. We lose a little liberty and self-rule every time Congress is in session … Given recent legislation and regulation, why shouldn’t we have contempt for Congress and the regulators … Madison certainly would.
How about Speaker Pelosi, when discussing what would become the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010: “We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it, away from the fog of the controversy.” One of the bill’s architects, economist Jonathan Gruber once noted that: “Lack of transparency is a huge political advantage. And basically, call it the stupidity of the American voter or whatever, but basically that was really, really critical for the thing to pass . . . . Look, I wish Mark [Pauly] was right that we could make it all transparent, but I’d rather have this law than not.” He explained that had Congress made Health Reform transparent, and if members of Congress had actually read and understood the law, it would never have emerged from Congress to be signed by President Obama.
No one reads this crap – yet they all expect us to abide by it and fund it with our wages.
One study from the University of Rochester estimates the cost of compliance with regulatory paperwork over a recent 40 year period as 292 billion hours, 2.24 trillion forms to comply with 36,702 regulations. Another study from UC Berkley showed that during 2002 – 2014, found that the equivalent of 3% of wages was spent on regulatory compliance.
The lack of transparency, the dense legalese, is intended to ensure everyday Americans remain ignorant and confused. It also opens the door to abuse, rent seeking, by those who benefit from the opacity, those who parse the incoherence embedded in most legislation and regulations.
As Madison would say: “Every new regulation concerning commerce or revenue, or in any manner affecting the value of the different species of property, presents a new harvest to those who watch the change, and can trace its consequences; a harvest, reared not by themselves, but by the toils and cares of the great body of their fellow-citizens. This is a state of things in which it may be said with some truth that laws are made for the few, not for the many.”
No wonder the founders always intended for the federal government to be limited to a small set of enumerated powers.
LikeLike
Because most everything from government emanates from the beltway these days, I am often reminded of satire from P. J. O’Rourke: “When buying and selling are controlled by legislation, the first things to be bought and sold are legislators.”
LikeLike
We could start by allowing us to pump our own gas or get a plastic bag with our groceries here in NJ.
LikeLike
“the road to hell is paved with good intentions” I believe is the quote–only the demagogues will try to convince us that “draining the swamp” means eliminating regulations–maybe that is characterized as misinformation or lying
many states, as an example AZ and Idaho have made a great effort to reduce rules and regulations–to try and streamline government–in many cases a new regulation before implemented has to have 2 eliminated–I remember a Wall St Journal article that showed that all of us were probably violating some regulation as there are so many–the idea is not to eliminate but to be sure regulations make some sense and have not outlived there usefulness.
If we stop SS checks do I get my contribution back and my employer’s contribution with a market rate of interest? Foolish–but to make a point I can understand the foolishness.
Of course if we set up a retirement program for our grand kids that set money to a nationwide TSP program like the Feds have it would be worth a discussion.
Close the EPA?? well, the courts now tell us that they don’t have unlimited power to promulgate rules–that power belongs to the people through Congress–nothing wrong with that.
We should pay farmers not to grow ? Send $ to Nat’l Public Radio/TV which began 50-odd years ago when the world was totally different? Mandate electric cars by 2035? We could go on and on.
the crazies on the left love mandates–rules–regulations as it concentrates power in a few hands and allows them to gather campaign contributions–I bet those AFT members in NJ rule the education roost–that $ just keeps Murphy and his sycophants coming back for more.
the crazies on the right want to slice and dice far more than necessary–I have little confidence in either side.
the states, especially out west, have the right idea–you want a regulation find two that are no longer needed–look at them all periodically and prune as much as possible.
LikeLike
Al Lindquist has again posted a good counter factual to Brother Quinn’s musings. The world won’t come to an end after the election and there will be plenty to grouse about for years to come.
LikeLike
Well stated.
LikeLike