Good government?

United States
October 29, 2009 2:54pm CST
A recent comment in another post led me to this quote: "Must good government affirmatively respond to any needs the people express, or should leaders begin with an evaluation of what is constitutionally permissible, and what can be better accomplished by other societal institutions?" This quote came from a Master's thesis, written in 1989, by Robert McDonnell (R) in Virginia. Even though this was written 20 years ago, it seems an appropriate point for the issues of government today. What do you think? Sound reasoning? Or hogwash?
1 person likes this
1 response
@gewcew23 (8007)
• United States
29 Oct 09
The problem is even if it is governments role to provide aid, is is just not wise. When government gives it takes. One may say the person or persons that are being given need it more than the person or persons being taken from, but it is my opinion that this logic is the true hogwash. If a government can force the rich to subsidize the poor one day that government might change and force the poor to subsidize the rich. A Constitution that defines government powers keeps government power in checked. If a government can do what ever it want then it can truly do what ever it wants. Take for instance the same President that created Social Security imprisoned Japanese-Americans. That President did not have the power to do either one, but he did because no one challenged his Constitutional powers. If we say that government has the power to form a health insurance which is not a Constitutional power then they have the power to decide how many children one can have. Neither one is a Constitution power so what does it matter.