If the prevailing American political discourse is any indication, the word “government” is synonymous with failure.
Scores of politicians, most of whom identify themselves as conservatives, spend a staggering amount of time criticizing the institution of government for its inefficiency, waste and corruption. At times, government is even blamed for stifling the work ethic and creativity of Americans.
These criticisms, for the most part, remain conveniently ambiguous, but often they take on a more pointed tone.
Newly minted Republican presidential candidate Gov. Rick Perry took aim at Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke during a campaign stop on Aug. 15, suggesting that any attempt on Bernanke’s part to “print more money” before the 2012 presidential election would be “treasonous.”
The typical attack against our massive, monolithic and destructive government usually ends, appropriately enough, with the simplest of solutions: “smaller Good.” The website includes a collection of essays penned to defend government from detractors, explain the positive outcomes of government initiatives and examine possible solutions to problems the government faces.
One of these pieces, entitled “A Day in Your Life,” highlights the average American’s dependence on government services throughout a normal day. Many of the services Amy speaks of are experienced by the average citizen indirectly, as they are administered through the soul-dead bureaucracies of federal regulatory agencies.
On the other hand, Amy mentions waste removal and processing, Medicare and food inspection, government services that most Americans — or their families — would clamor for if they were ever in danger of being eliminated.
To be fair, a large number of these services are administered though local or state governments, which usually prove more efficient than federal government at responding to citizens’ needs. All units of government undoubtedly possess the capacity to be wasteful and corrupt. American history is littered with the indiscretions of government, which have variously cost Americans their money, their time and, tragically, their lives.
If you are reading this newspaper, chances are you’re acutely aware of the role at least one government institution plays in your everyday life. After all, the majority of the Daily Reveille’s readership is either enrolled in or employed by — or perhaps both — Louisiana State University, a government institution of higher learning.
Many of you can therefore understand the disastrous blow that a reduction in funding — or even the threat of such — can deal to a government institution.
When politicians become specific in their critiques of government, progress can be achieved. However, the attacks are often political in nature and ignore the utility and success of the agency in question.
Earlier this year, congressional Republicans supported a measure to defund Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest provider of reproductive health services.
Due to the program’s popularity and relatively efficiency, the measure failed, but a few states, including Indiana and Texas, chose to defund it in their legislatures.
Meanwhile, the most expansive and powerful government institution in the history of civilization with the most unyieldingly rigid bureaucratic construction imaginable — the United States military — has endured little criticism for its bloated budget, which is expected to top $1 trillion in 2012.
Government is certainly not infallible, and it is far wiser to focus on criticizing and improving government as informed citizens than it is to unyieldingly revere it. It is important to remember that the institution of government, along with most institutions in existence, is not either inherently good or bad.
We should acknowledge and point out our government’s flaws whenever possible, but empty and vague rhetoric designed to assail the reputation of the institution itself is counterproductive and irrational.
Chris Seemann is a 21-year-old mass communications senior from New Orleans. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_CSeemann.
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Contact Chris Seemann at [email protected]