Spring Break
'Evil' government? Tell it to the judge
Kevin Hollinshead
Issue date: 4/13/09 Section: Opinion
As a newbie to the Collegian opinion staff, I've enthusiastically absorbed any and all advice I can get about writing opinion pieces. When grappling with writer's block for this one, my father suggested I read through past columns.
To put it succinctly: Good idea, Dad.
Within the comments section of the Collegian online, there tends to be a generalization among many posters that government is inherently "evil" -- that officials are merely political whores looking to cement their agenda, all while screwing American taxpayers.
This sentiment is by no means contained within the CSU campus. A Google search of "U.S. government too big" yields 59.8 million hits.
U.S. Rep. Ron Paul's presidential campaign basically ran with that idea. While I won't go on a rant against Paul or his followers, I'll do my best to change the whole culture of how people view government, via this, my debut.
Well, not really. But this issue necessitates an inquiry into the proper role of government.
I am by no means a radical, left or right, on this issue. Government is far from perfect. Billions of dollars are wasted every year not just on congressional pork projects but also within various government agencies, where bureaucracy is a way of life. We all know how infuriating a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles can be for this reason.
That said, bureaucracy is inevitable in a nation this large, not just in government but also in the private sector. Ask anyone who has filed a claim with a for-profit insurance company.
What anti-government proponents tend to forget, though, is most crucial services come via -- you guessed it -- those damn politicians and bureaucrats.
Police and fire departments, teachers, the criminal justice system, the postal service and countless other entities that are necessary to achieve a civilized lifestyle are all organized, maintained and funded through government, be it local, state or federal.
To say that government is "evil" by default lumps in some of the most revered members of American society.
To put it succinctly: Good idea, Dad.
Within the comments section of the Collegian online, there tends to be a generalization among many posters that government is inherently "evil" -- that officials are merely political whores looking to cement their agenda, all while screwing American taxpayers.
This sentiment is by no means contained within the CSU campus. A Google search of "U.S. government too big" yields 59.8 million hits.
U.S. Rep. Ron Paul's presidential campaign basically ran with that idea. While I won't go on a rant against Paul or his followers, I'll do my best to change the whole culture of how people view government, via this, my debut.
Well, not really. But this issue necessitates an inquiry into the proper role of government.
I am by no means a radical, left or right, on this issue. Government is far from perfect. Billions of dollars are wasted every year not just on congressional pork projects but also within various government agencies, where bureaucracy is a way of life. We all know how infuriating a trip to the Department of Motor Vehicles can be for this reason.
That said, bureaucracy is inevitable in a nation this large, not just in government but also in the private sector. Ask anyone who has filed a claim with a for-profit insurance company.
What anti-government proponents tend to forget, though, is most crucial services come via -- you guessed it -- those damn politicians and bureaucrats.
Police and fire departments, teachers, the criminal justice system, the postal service and countless other entities that are necessary to achieve a civilized lifestyle are all organized, maintained and funded through government, be it local, state or federal.
To say that government is "evil" by default lumps in some of the most revered members of American society.
Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 4
Carly H.
posted 4/13/09 @ 5:52 AM MST
This article is very true. What some people don't seem to realize is that by saying that "all government is evil" groups in everyone from the beurocracy, to firefighters, to teachers. (Continued…)
Jim Carlson
posted 4/13/09 @ 11:58 AM MST
Great article.
Ric
posted 4/13/09 @ 12:56 PM MST
Well said Mr. Hollinshead. Government is a human organization. Human organizations are made up of people AND their personal characteristics/tendencies. (Continued…)
Bdygard
Craig Hawley
posted 4/13/09 @ 4:46 PM MST
There's a postal service? LOL Not much longer.
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