How Big Should Government Be? (healthcare, borders, cost, dollar)

[ndfmnlf]

What do you consider to be the correct size of government? To those who advocate limited government, what exactly do you mean by that?

[GuyPinestra]

Originally Posted by ndfmnlf

What do you consider to be the correct size of government? To those who advocate limited government, what exactly do you mean by that?

Are we talking about Federal government, or ALL government?? Federally I think government should be strictly limited to what is mandated by the Constitution, with the individual states taking responsibility for the rest. IMHO, we really screwed up by not listening to the Founders in that regard.

[KantLockeMeIn]

Originally Posted by ndfmnlf

What do you consider to be the correct size of government? To those who advocate limited government, what exactly do you mean by that?

tiny federal government, medium sized state government, and bigger sized local government.

Some prefer tiny government on all levels, but I think that's unrealistic. I don't expect to pay much less taxes in total, just have more the power to hold those who spend those taxes more accountable. From my experience, that's best done at the local level.

[Zooropa]

I say I'm more of a medium at all levels person, but who knows. I would like to see some consistency from state to state rather than something more like a confederation of nation states...though I can see twojciac's point of view as well.

[Magnulus]

I don't want to make government so huge it can dictate what you eat for breakfast and wheather you put the toilet paper up or down. Just big enough to drown Grover Norquist in the bathtub.

[KantLockeMeIn]

Originally Posted by Magnulus

I don't want to make government so huge it can dictate what you eat for breakfast and wheather you put the toilet paper up or down. Just big enough to drown Grover Norquist in the bathtub.

Which I feel will be an interesting side effect of a universal healthcare program. Any behavior which increases costs can be used as an excuse to regulate that behavior for the common good.

When I was visiting Australia there were two cops in a park harassing a guy for not wearing a helmet while riding his bicycle. On the news I saw someone who had their license revoked as a passenger of a vehicle for having their arm resting just outside of the window as it was in motion. These were both attributed to an effort to reduce the cost of healthcare.

[Magnulus]

Originally Posted by twojciac

Which I feel will be an interesting side effect of a universal healthcare program. Any behavior which increases costs can be used as an excuse to regulate that behavior for the common good.

When I was visiting Australia there were two cops in a park harassing a guy for not wearing a helmet while riding his bicycle. On the news I saw someone who had their license revoked as a passenger of a vehicle for having their arm resting just outside of the window as it was in motion. These were both attributed to an effort to reduce the cost of healthcare.

I'm disappointed you didn't get the Grover Norquist tax-hawk reference, but maybe you did.

Wearing a helmet is mandated already in alot of US states, even if it is rarely enforced. In Florida all minors on bicycle have to wear a helmet. Some states have laws covering all adults. As a cousin of somebody who got epilepsy from a bicycle crash, I have to say it would be justifiable in infringing on peoples rights to be stupid in this case.

[NCN]

The smaller the government the better the government. I am so tired of hearing what each candidate is going to do for each group. "Ask not what your government can do for you, ask what you can do for your government."

It should not be the governments job to redistribute money.

[jessica1000]

1) Protect our borders with national border guard.

2) A small army. (less than maybe $100 billion dollar) with 500 nukes. Perfect for defense war.

3) A robust intelligence agency.

4) Federal reserve system.

5) NASA

6) The rest is mostly in the constitution. (nothing much)


All could be paid by a corporate tax.


No to federal Education department, agriculture, commerce, verteran agency(get 401k) and end to all welfare, social security(get 401k), medicare and medicaid and etc.

[fishmonger]

Originally Posted by twojciac

tiny federal government, medium sized state government, and bigger sized local government.

Some prefer tiny government on all levels, but I think that's unrealistic. I don't expect to pay much less taxes in total, just have more the power to hold those who spend those taxes more accountable. From my experience, that's best done at the local level.

Except for when you have the corrupt + revenue-impoverished state and local governments such as that of my home state...