Role of Government

Two hundred and fifty years our federal government has been in operation. At first its role was to establish a national identity, some sense of cohesiveness, then a national presence in the global community of that era, then military defense of our borders. What came later were tasks that were logical and necessary. Settling the nation’s vast landscape west of our early eastern states. Manifest Destiny toward the Pacific coast was one such necessity. Indian affairs was another, and we did that badly. Transportation issues encouraged the Erie Canal, bridges, roads and connecting and expanding the railroad system from coast to coast.

None of this came easily or quickly. All were earned by need and even dire circumstances.

Along the way we focused attention on living conditions and public safety. That included policing, firefighting, streets and sanitation, response to emergencies such as floods, large fires, and destructive weather.

Soon we paid attention to worker safety, employment standards and the economic conditions that gave rise to job creation. Health and income security came later. The so-called public safety net of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid all came in the 1930’s, 1950’s and 1960’s.

Amazing we have slowly embraced quality of life issues. From our modern vantage point, we would think those issues would have grabbed attention much earlier. But not back then. So much more to do that was more necessary.

Today, job creation, economic planning and nurture are often front and center investments that we know are needed to make the engine of our nation work properly. Removing supports of those roles is a prescription for disaster, our national disaster.

The Small Business Administration performs many tasks that enable individuals to better create entrepreneurial energy and planning. Small businesses are the single most new job creators in the economy. They continue to play this role as they always have. Congress knows this from experience. They support the SBA. They support SCORE mentoring, too, of small businesses so they have a better chance of success and long-term employment growth.

The federal Education Department established national standards for education and encouraged states to provide supervision of their school systems to provide basic human services. Support for higher education came from this source as well, along with national financial aid programs that enable students of any financial means access to an education that would support our nation’s economic growth, creativity and success. Research and development soon followed, roles not well done by private organizations and businesses. This engine of discovery for the good of mankind in all areas of endeavor prospered. Medicine, technology, commerce, international affairs and so much more all benefitted from this research function.

Progress did not come overnight. It was earned day by day by thousands of federal employees over decades of effort. Closing these miracle organizations is a travesty. It is also a shortsighted fancy of those interested only in immediate financial goals. This is not the way to run a business, nor a government.

The incompetence of White House leadership is stunning. They should be removed. Now.

March 31, 2025

 

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