Comments Posted By Mark Turner
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WHAT WE NEED IS A GOLDILOCKS GOVERNMENT
My opinion of the role of federal government is that it should essentially concern itself with the following:
-Economic and trade policy which supports long-term growth and can respond adequately to changing real world conditions (domestic and foreign)
-National defense (military, border security, internal security)
-Public health and safety (i.e., prevention and control of disease outbreaks through adequate immunization, sanitation standards, etc.
-Public emergency response (which needs to be carefully and competently integrated with state and local response) - law enforcement, disaster recovery, etc.
-Maintenance of national transportation infrasutrcture (air traffic control, seaport control, interstate highways and non-private rail lines)
-Upholding law and liberty in the context of constitutional guidanceThe Democratic party ideology seems to advocate a "federal government knows best" approach to the above points, and public services in general. While I have seen this concept work quite well in small, well integrated countries like Singapore (where I now live), it relies heavily of federal government knowing exactly what is going on at a macro- and micro- level, and having the resources and plans of action to do the right thing. I do NOT see this happening in the US; the bureaucrats is Washington are so often out of touch with the people they supposedly represent, that it would be impossible for them to make accurate decisions about the welfare of the entire country on a consistent basis.
The GOP tends to advocate more of a state-level approach, rather than federal government involvement. Even at state level, much of the government is ineffective due to incompetent/clueless politicians and various budgetary constraints.
I don't have an easy answer to the problems that the US is facing now, but there are many areas that need a serious rethink with regard to who has oversight authority and the scope of that authority. Above all, the many facets of government need to be well integrated to be effective and eliminate the "pork" and gross waste of taxpayers money.
Comment Posted By Mark Turner On 8.12.2008 @ 20:06
