think about it
REFORM: THE BIGGER QUESTIONS
A statement from an article in theWashington Examiner this past March, came up in a con- versation about needed government reforms. “The bigger question is this: Which activities are properly performed by the federal government, and which activities are properly left to other bodies, such as states, local governments, the private sector or nonprofit organizations?” I preface my remarks by pointing out that we
live within the boundaries of the civil rights and protections promised all of us by the United States Constitution. It is what unites us as a democracy. But, our democracy is not static: it is a continually evolving, vibrant, living and breathing process our founding fathers wisely crafted and intended it to be. We survive and thrive on a steady diet of free negotiations and compromises. This is what enables us to keep pace with the changing times and conditions necessary to maintain a healthy cohesive society, culture and economy. One that is steeped in diversity and differences while still remaining steadfastly united. The quote I shared is my focus and defines the
heart of the Republican platform and ideology. That said, it is a hard truth to swallow for liberals like me. But, it is a fact that some decisions and chal- lenges are better made and addressed by the federal government, while others are more sustainably, cost effectively and efficiently addressed by local
governments and/or people outside government. The greatest barrier to identifying where challenges and issues are best addressed, is the declining ability of participants to maintain levels of bipartisanship and impartial collaboration neces- sary to lead us to mutually acceptable and beneficial agreements. Though it makes it convenient to blame everything on government, we exist in an era in which we bombard each other with incomplete, out-of-context and false information. This activity blurs truths and reality and cripples our ability to make rational, informed judgements. Sadly, partisan governing has reached such an adversarial pitch, that mutually beneficial compromise and negotiation have become nearly extinct. I submit that too many reforms are formulated and decisions made behind closed doors in Washington D.C. by our elected federal government and career politicians who grow too detached from the neighborhoods, cities, counties and states in which their constituents live, work, shop, receive their educations and healthcare. Is it any wonder, why we find it convenient to blame everything objec- tionable on the government of whichever party sits in the seat of power at the moment? This needs to be the number one reform. Local community levels are the building blocks
of America’s foundation and where reform begins. So, perhaps we liberals are placing more
by william e. kelly
responsibility, trust and faith in Washington than it can equitably and efficiently manage. The moderate in me believes neither a bloated nor an emaciated “big brother” government, serves our collective best interests. More to the point: Campaign, immigration, military, education, healthcare, economic, labor, tax and social reforms that keep up with evolving changes, are necessary to sustain a viable, free and prosperous United States of America. But, they cannot continue to be made in the vacuum of the rooms on The Hill, behind closed doors. The roots of every national-level reform, lie in the communities of the beautifully complex quilt that is America. The need for reform is a huge issue and we need
to honestly assess which issues should be handled locally and which at the federal level. For the latter, we must press our Congressional representatives to make decisions based on the needs of their constituents and not secretly; as a part of the political bargaining process.
Just Think About It.
Footnote: The aforementioned quote was taken from the article, “Trump’s budget puts Washington in its place,” which can be viewed in full at:
washingtonexaminer.com/trumps- budget-puts-washington-in-its-place/article/2617643.
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RAGE monthly | JUNE 2017
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