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Big Government or Small Government?

Big Man Stepping on Small Man Our love affair with big government becomes more intense as our nation
ages. But are we looking for love in all the wrong places?

By Selwyn Duke

After giving a speech in Toronto, Canada, several years ago, I spoke to
some of the high school students in attendance. While talking about the
role of the state with one of them, he said: “Government is there to
make people happy.” He was a nice, intelligent young man, and he made
the statement in a non-confrontational, matter-of-fact manner.

While such an attitude reminds one of what a certain road is paved
with, unfortunately, his perspective is shared by millions of
Americans. Of course, some of these people are well-meaning, but they
nevertheless are lacking in a very traditional American quality:
distrust of government. How American is it? Columnist Dr. Walter
Williams treats this in his piece, “American Idea,” writing:

Read the rest here.

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18 responses to “Big Government or Small Government?”

  1. Philip France Avatar
    Philip France

    Right on Selwyn!
    Of the 535 elected officials in Washington D.C., only about a dozen or so properly understand and perform their roles. Most of these hail from the southeastern United States.
    One more thing: Would ANYONE trust their children with House Shrieker Nazi Lugosi? Just look at the woman. She looks like a deranged lunatic!

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  2. Walt Avatar
    Walt

    Good article. A small federal government and the power close to the people is the only way liberty will prevail.

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  3. Proud Black Woman Avatar
    Proud Black Woman

    If small government is better, is no government best? No, of course not!
    Our government was formed to protect against the excess of a King. Now, government must protect against other excesses whose face is somewhat more hidden.
    In this world, government must protect us from each other. It must protect us from each other and from forces in the world that would do us harm. It does not exist to promote the interest of any single individual. It exists to promote the interest of Americans as a whole; the “public option,” so to speak.
    Things have become more complicated than they were in the time of King George. The size of government is not the question. The question is, the direction that government takes that matters.
    How many Americans really believe that their government is working for them? The Americans at AIG think that the government is working for them. The rest of us generally don’t. How about you? What has the government done for you lately buddy?
    So, let’s have a government that is working for the people for a change. And not one driven by that outdated Ronald Wilson Regan; “trickle-down-a-rising-tide-floats-all-boats” nonsense that denies that there is a structure of haves and have nots; and that there is a competitive tension between those who work by the hour (which is most of us) and those who pay them.
    I punch a time clock where I work. How about you?

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  4. Walt Avatar
    Walt

    I can tell from your post we probably won’t see eye to eye but let me give you a short piece of my perspective. You said,
    “How many Americans really believe that their government is working for them?”
    No matter what a government, especially a federal one, someone a portion of the population will take issue with how it’s being governed and also take issue with the way the money that was seized from them is being apportioned. This is why following the Tenth Amendment is so important. If we followed the Tenth, government could be as large and controlling or as small and freedom laden as the people wanted; per state or locality. This is the power close to the people. Massachusetts is the perfect example of the Tenth Amendment working. They took it upon themselves to design a state run health care system. This is PERFECT. The people of Mass. spoke and it happened. Now the rest of the US gets to see how communism works in real time with Mass. as the guinea pig; just as our founders intended.
    You assume government is not too big but too corrupt and that government does not work for the people. I remind you the people do not speak in unison. We are not a collective.

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  5. Proud Black Woman Avatar
    Proud Black Woman

    Walt, I think we agree on more than you would expect on the surface. Let’s try a little experiment to prove that. But, you’ve got to answer candidly and honestly if it’s going to work:
    Question:
    If the market would allow for it in terms of an available labor pool; and your company would grow because of it; and you would earn more profits by doing it:
    Would you lower your employee’s wages?
    (Will reply to your answer.)

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  6. Walt Avatar
    Walt

    I determine the wages I pay based upon the demand for my products and services and the pricing of my competitors. If demand for a product or service is low and competition is high, wages become low.
    Demand drives the market primarily. Of course supply of labor has its effects on the market and it is usually a downward pressure (excess of workers lowers wages). All in all, at least in my industry, competition and demand sets prices and efficiency is the only mechanism of profit.

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  7. Shaun Avatar
    Shaun

    Although the question was to Walt I would like to respond to this if I may. However, I am going to be ambiguous and give a double answer. Here goes.
    For me personally, I wouldn’t lower my employee’s wages. This is assuming that I set the original wage to what I believed to be equilibrium between capital/labor and profit. I would rather have a happier employee than to pocket a few extra bucks or to expand my enterprise (I have a compassionate heart). However…..
    For mankind in general, I would say..heck ya, cut their wages. If you are in a free market then cutting away inefficiencies will make everyone else better off. If you are scalping employees, than you will be faced with unproductive employees or a quick flight of labor to your nearest competitor. If you are over paying them then you will soon be forced into bankruptcy and leave your employees without work.
    I understand you set a series of “rules” in the beginning of your question but such conditions are almost hypothetically impossible to meet w/o government controls of some sort. There is almost no case I’ve read where government controls made the total market better off.
    Shaun

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  8. Gettinolder Avatar
    Gettinolder

    PBW;
    I see you punch in on a time clock. Have you in the past been in the position of signing paychecks (IE, those of us who do not “punch in” are generally speaking those who are signing the checks)
    Those who sign the checks are those who usually show up before those who “punch in” and remain long after those who “punch out” have gone home. I am specifically speaking usually of small business owners here.
    I would like to volunteer that as a check signer, we treat our employees like we would like to be treated. We are a small company, like everyone else we are very affected by the current economic situation. We gave a raise not because we were asked, or required to do so, but because we value our employee’s. We constantly turn away new applicants, some who are “over qualified” so there is no shortage of labor pool.
    I would like to ask you another question, Do you feel it is the job of the U.S. Government to “police the world” with major military stations throughout the world?
    Out of curiosity, are you on the time clock while you are reading Selwyn, or do you do this at home on your time?.
    Another question, do you feel entitled to sign your posts “Proud Black Woman” because of what you have accomplished, or because of what other black women have accomplished? If you have done something you are proud of, share it with us….then we can be proud of you to, not because you are black, or because you are a woman, but because you are an American.

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  9. Proud Black Woman Avatar
    Proud Black Woman

    Okay, so are you saying you would or you would not?

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  10. Proud Black Woman Avatar
    Proud Black Woman

    G. in O.
    You certainly are a nosey old coot!
    If you’re so interested in my background, why don’t you leave your name and address and I’ll send you my CV. (Confused now?)
    As far as America’s obligation to police the world; since I did some of that policing, I feel qualified to tell you that no…I don’t think that is America’s “job.” It is America’s job, to use your terms, to take care of Americans.
    Whether I’m reading Duke on the clock or off… I’ll answer that if you tell me if you’re reading him at the Home or not. I will tell you this about what I’m proud of…you whiney, entitled, geezer…I’m proud that I’m not you.
    Very proud of that!

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  11. yoyo Avatar
    yoyo

    go proud black woman! as someone who does employ staff, unless there is a downturn I would not cut wages, but the company I work for is not my own (although I have a direct say in the financial management). The reason (besides me being a long time lefty) is that it is a totally false ecconomy to do so.
    1-Poor workers cant buy products and the whole ecconomy suffers,
    2 Happy workers are not poached by your competitors
    3 happy workers are loyal and productive.
    My industry has suffered greatly under the GFM so I may have to cut hours temporarily, however I would not cut the rate. Yes to whoever said it owners of businesses often work long hours that’s as it should be. I work much longer than my staff, but my responsibility is greater.

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  12. Walt Avatar
    Walt

    So you are asking if I am paying above market for labor should I correct it? Yes! Every business must correct to the market or the market will correct the business. Monopolies are a different matter, they need not respect market conditions nor those who labor for them. The greatest American monopoly is the US government.

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  13. Proud Black Woman Avatar
    Proud Black Woman

    I never said anything about “paying above market for labor.” Just forget it.

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  14. Proud Black Woman Avatar
    Proud Black Woman

    yoyo you gogo girl! I just love it when liberal bra-less women can take over a white honkey blog!
    One big plus about this site is we get a lot of attention from men. I don’t get that at work (I try not to pay attention anyway)
    Very proud of my typing skills! How’s that geezer?

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  15. John Avatar
    John

    Just so everyone knows Proud black woman has got to be Ray Hicks. Same writing style. Same stupid sarcasm. it seems he posts under many different handles. Hey Ray, why don’t you man up and post as yourself? What an old fart.

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  16. Proud Black Woman Avatar
    Proud Black Woman

    There is no better example of impotence than this post:
    “Proud Black Woman said in reply to yoyo…
    yoyo you gogo girl! I just love it when liberal bra-less women can take over a white honkey blog!
    One big plus about this site is we get a lot of attention from men. I don’t get that at work (I try not to pay attention anyway)
    Very proud of my typing skills! How’s that geezer?”
    Here is someone so angry and stupid he is like a caged monkey; frustrated and masturbating for the crowd. What a pathetic, racist, joke he is.
    “Bra-less women”… Why don’t you copy my name again…you weak, microcephalic, moron.
    John was that you? Who is Ray Hicks? He your wife’s boyfriend?

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  17. Proud Black Woman Avatar
    Proud Black Woman

    John,
    I’m sorry about that comment about your wife. I thought that you were the person posting under my name but, I don’t know that. I apologize. That remark was uncalled for.

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  18. Walt Avatar
    Walt

    No please explain your point. I have employed people for over 20 years and your scenerio has never came up. The market conditions you describe are unusual.

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