The Authority of Silence « Bunker Mulligan

Bunker Mulligan "Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry." ~Mark Twain

July 19, 2004

The Authority of Silence

Filed under: Government — Bunker @ 5:32 am

Bill says much of what I believe regarding the Federal government, and explains it in a way which makes a lot of sense.

Comments (3)

3 Comments

The only two from Bill’s list that I think belong are the Social Security admin, and the education admin. They are part and parcel of “providing for the common welfare”. The rest are just superfluous spending. I think government should provide basic services and basic infrastructure, beyond the basics I feel that it should be an initiative and referendum deal, the government says: “You want this service, yes or no, if yes choose one of the following three methods to pay for it, if you do not choose a payment method this constitutes a no on the service”. It’s that simple.

Comment by Bubba Bo Bob Brain — July 19, 2004 @ 10:26 pm
Your thoughts on a referendum match well with the founders’ concept of Amendment. Unfortunately, people in this country want the government to do something, and they want it done now. An amendment takes a long time to go through. So, people turn to the courts to get the legislation they want, and all you need to do is shop around for one willing to step over the Constitutional line.

Comment by Bunker — July 20, 2004 @ 6:00 am
Bubba:

I see your point on SSA and Education, but my view on them is:

SSA – We have a welfare system to take care of the truly needy. That fulfills the “common welfare” requirement. Retirement is something that individuals should plan and provide for themselves. If they bungle it, then they have the federal welfare system to fall back on.

Education – Traditionally has been a state and local responsibility. The feds have only turned it into another enormous bureaucacy beholden to the NEA. I don’t disagree that it’s a government responsibility, only that it doesn’t belong at the federal level.

OH… and thanks for the kind words Bunker.

Comment by Bill — July 24, 2004 @ 11:01 pm