Protestantism

» Brian Tubbs - Follow up

You listed the following areas where the govt should play an active role...

1. Health-care, 2. Education, 3. Energy, 4. Mass Transportation, 5. Communications

Okay...

I would argue that the government already plays a very active role in all of these areas, especially education. You obviously think it needs to play a BIGGER role. For that to happen....

The government has three choices:

1) Increase regulation to where it increasingly takes control over the industries, without claiming ownership of them

2) Direct takeover of the industry, claiming public ownership

3) Enter the marketplace as a player in those industries - in other words, like the Post Office (but allowing private companies to compete)

I am 100% opposed to Option 2 and supportive of Option #1 in only emergency and TEMPORARY situations. (Example would be World War II, where the US government pretty much did take over domestic manufacturing of vehicles).

I am actually open to Option #3. I think the US government should enter the marketplace, providing products and services to people whose needs are not being met by the existing marketplace. But....

The government has to be careful and watch the bottom line. The government can't see itself as an ever-growing Money Tree. There are financial limitations that it has to work within.

I am totally against the simple "Tax-and-Spend" mindset that so many liberals have when it comes to the government. They see a need and call on the govt to raise taxes and throw money at the problem. The government can't always do that. Nor should it.