Quote of the Day: Government Intervention
Government never furthered any enterprise but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way.
-Henry David Thoreau
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This is perhaps my favorite quote I have done to date about the fallibility of government in furthering the quality of enterprises which it seeks to engage in. As H.L. Mencken so appropriately stated "Government is the worst failure of civilized man."
Governments throughout history have attempted to create greater equality, greater social justice, a greater economy, and a wide range of other issues. By and large they have failed. Communists have the dream of creating greater equality and social justice among the populace with government controlled industry and they did, but by creating poverty instead of a quality standard of living. Communist governments around the world failed to accomplish their task and have collapsed. Others still are very fragile. China recognized the problems of government controlled industry and have transferred many of their enterprises over to private industry loosening their control on economic decisions. In turn their economy has seen the longest and fastest growth rate in history. China is still a very fragile power today because of other reasons like the restriction on speech, increasing income disparity, and the Taiwan issue.
The US is a scene that can be picked out very clearly. Since the introduction of programs like MediCare and MediCaid the cost of healthcare has increased by several thousand percent. Government regulations prohibiting drilling, refining, nuclear power, and coal power have increased our dependence on foreign oil sources and increased prices. Windfall profit taxes insituted by Jimmy Carter decreased domestic oil production. Social Security has decreased the ability of Americans to save effectively for retirement. The income tax system has hindered economic growth, decreased job productions, removed the benefits of hard work, and has made America a debtors society. The War on Drugs has resulted in increased crime, increased government expenditure, and increase drug use.
The only way government has succeded in furthering enterprise is by getting out of the way of its development.
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Governments throughout history have attempted to create greater equality, greater social justice, a greater economy, and a wide range of other issues. By and large they have failed. Communists have the dream of creating greater equality and social justice among the populace with government controlled industry and they did, but by creating poverty instead of a quality standard of living. Communist governments around the world failed to accomplish their task and have collapsed. Others still are very fragile. China recognized the problems of government controlled industry and have transferred many of their enterprises over to private industry loosening their control on economic decisions. In turn their economy has seen the longest and fastest growth rate in history. China is still a very fragile power today because of other reasons like the restriction on speech, increasing income disparity, and the Taiwan issue.
The US is a scene that can be picked out very clearly. Since the introduction of programs like MediCare and MediCaid the cost of healthcare has increased by several thousand percent. Government regulations prohibiting drilling, refining, nuclear power, and coal power have increased our dependence on foreign oil sources and increased prices. Windfall profit taxes insituted by Jimmy Carter decreased domestic oil production. Social Security has decreased the ability of Americans to save effectively for retirement. The income tax system has hindered economic growth, decreased job productions, removed the benefits of hard work, and has made America a debtors society. The War on Drugs has resulted in increased crime, increased government expenditure, and increase drug use.
The only way government has succeded in furthering enterprise is by getting out of the way of its development.
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Government never furthered any enterprise but by the alacrity with which it got out of its way.
-Henry David Thoreau
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