By Norm Aulabaugh
Writing about this subject, I could start with the obvious: to provide for the common defense of all citizens. I could continue with the protection of freedom through the establishment of laws and a system of courts to enforce these laws. I could add public education, clean air, clean water, and many cherished things that probably would not exist if simply left to individuals or private enterprise to provide.
But there is one very simple reason that constantly comes to mind. Government exists to create equal opportunity for all, but it does not exist to create equal results. As I recall, I heard former Governor Scott McCallum say this in his inaugural address; regardless of the source, these seventeen words say a lot, and point out much of what is wrong with America today.
I remember a town hall meeting held as part of the 2000 presidential campaign. George Bush and Al Gore were falling over each other to see who could promise the most for all Americans. I remember one middle-aged lady asking the question, “You have said what you will do for the youth of our country, and what you will do for the elderly. But I’m interested in what you will do for us in the middle!” I was embarrassed. All I could think of at that moment were the immortal words of John F. Kennedy, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.”
If you have read Tom Brokaw’s book The Greatest Generation you are filled with admiration for those who worked and fought to protect our freedom during World War II. When victory was assured, those people quietly returned to their regular lives that had been disrupted by the war. They asked for nothing but the chance to do the best they could do. They gave of themselves to better their communities, and many achieved greatness for themselves in the process.
Business leaders seized the initiative. Paul Hoffman of Studebaker Corporation, Bill Benton of Benton and Bowles, and Marion Folsom of Eastman Kodak formed the Committee for Economic Development, which supported bold new initiatives to help us and the world prosper; e.g. the Employment Act of 1946, the President’s Council of Economic Advisors, and the Marshall Plan.
Something has changed since then, exemplified by that question at the town hall meeting: What is the government going to do for me? The change can be seen in present-day business greed, as evidenced by the Enron scandal, among many others, and even Krispy Kreme! The problem is made worse because the purpose of government is no longer to create conditions that promote equality, giving us all the chance to achieve to the best of our abilities. The purpose is now to do whatever is necessary to get elected, and this involves giving greedy Americans what they want.
Economics 101 teaches the principle of Guns or Butter. Americans during World War II understood this, and they made personal sacrifices. But by the time of the Viet Nam War, Lyndon Johnson helped to sell this unpopular war by raiding the Social Security Trust Fund, thus giving people both guns and butter. Later, the Social Security Trust Fund made Medicare possible. Now, it’s do whatever is necessary to get elected, not what is right for the future of America.
George Bush has proven he can create deficits faster than Ronald Reagan. We can now become involved in a war costing hundreds of billions of dollars, lavish a prescription drug benefit on seniors costing more than $700 billion over the next ten years, and cut taxes at the same time! John Kerry made similar and even bigger promises, offering only a slight bit of monetary relief by suggesting taxes be increased for only the wealthiest of Americans – a pretty safe position since these people would mostly vote for Bush anyway.
The primary goal of any organization is to survive, because if it does not do so, it can accomplish none of its purposes. There are many purposes of government. But a government cannot achieve anything if it does not survive. With Americans asking for more and more, and political parties giving more and more for the sole purpose of remaining in power, the end result will be the destruction of the United States and its government.
A government must first secure the future of the society it represents. The United States faces a grave risk of losing everything the Greatest Generation achieved. This sad situation can only be repaired when concerned Americans of all generations support politicians who will do what is right for America, and not what is demanded by individual Americans.
Norm Aulabaugh is a retired Janesville Wisconsin businessman living on a farm in rural Orfordville. Norm was an independent candidate challenging Paul Ryan in last November's election.
