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Smaller Government in all countries around the world
Is there a way we can rationally and gradually shrink all governments in countries all over the world and reduce them to providing protection on national level and let the local take care of their own problems and seek help from other local governments?
James Turner 10+
Mike Colera 10+
The one "problem" that I see that must be overcome is the reluctance of people to give up the comfort they find in big government. Reluctance is probably not a strong enough word.
I have engaged in talks with these comfortable people and even when I point to real situations where governments have failed to sustain the comforts provided to their populations... I am assured that
" it could never happen here. Our government is too good to allow that to happen".
In my defeat, my only solace is that when the big governments fail and based on history they always do, I believe, hopefully, people will learn by their mistakes in rebuilding their societies.
Jim Smithson 10+
The issue is not that it could be done, it is that in most countries the culture of greed and entitlement allows the many to rob the few at the ballot box. Western Europe is already in the great slide to socialist destruction. America is also likely over the tipping point and will be joining them soon. Russia is rife with unstoppable corruption and Japan with a hopeless and helpless bureaucracy that is endemic to their collectivist culture. India has corruption like Russia and a clanking bureaucracy that has all the worst aspects of British civil service. China is expanding largely based on the greed of the Western world. It will remain to be seen if they can create a middle class that will allow them to self sustain. Africa is a non-issue. The is no culture there that is capable of anything but perpetual corruption and war.
In short, no. The size of government is driven by collective greed. And the one thing that is ever present in the human heart is greed.
James Turner 10+
Mike Colera 10+
There are people who are ... afraid of freedom and individual rights. They feel secure in having a "big" government taking care of them from cradle to grave.
So, to approach them and say, we could tailor your governance so that it will allow your individual freedoms with the minimal of restrictions... etc. I am afraid we would be told to go away. We even have a portion of the citizenry of the USA who hold that philosophy.
Would it be better to have smaller governance? Yes, But how do you hold the nose of a childish population to make it take the bitter medicine as they see it. And then take away their security blankets? You will have a world wide squealing of babes.
Rustam Eynaliyev
Mike Colera 10+
Rustam Eynaliyev
As far as reducing government in terms of regulations, even though propose above solutions will probably greatly reduce the bureaucracy they are in no way enough. People will have to ask politicians to do it. Generally, at least in U.S. , people get what they ask for. It's just sometimes they're led to ask for things they don't really want.
Mike Colera 10+
No, I read your "stop wars" . I see stop wars as the wrong phraseology. We don't really want to start wars. You only stop once it has started...anyway that was my take.
But you have addressed my point exactly. People have been accepting all these goods and services by the central government and keep accepting and even asking for more. The problem as I see it is that governments have no method to gain wealth except to take it from people, which makes some people unhappy. But the biggest loss in this process is not the money but freedoms and independence. These are traded for safety and security. If you want that from your government, I have no problem with your choice, I believe you have that freedom. I just rather have my freedom and independence.
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peter ezzell
Long before dealing with size, if that is even a root problem, I would be concerned human rights around the world, with lack of transparency and with corruption among those in power, whether in government or those outside of government who pull strings behind the scenes.
Yes, we need to exercise fiscal restraint, not infringe on individual freedoms, etc., but we also need well informed people in power, representing us, who will work together to solve national problems, and work with the rest of the world to solve emerging and existing global problems, again in a transparent way without being under the thrall of special interests. Will that happen? probably not..
Mike Colera 10+
Power corrupts and absolute power absolutely corrupts. Someone said that.
Government should be sized to meet a specific list of tasks to provide for the individual freedoms,
ie. life , liberty and the pursuit of happiness. like the original US Constitution.
If it is allowed to take on additional tasks to make the individual feel safer or make life easier...
It's all downhill from there like the current US Constitution.
James Turner 10+
Mike Colera 10+
Under the US Constitution, specific tasks were assigned and limitations imposed. But over the years, the people allowed it to get bigger, to do more than was originally intended. As a result, the Federation of the United States as it was intended has become one nation with only the slimmest tentacle of the federation still in existence. So, since the successful overthrown of the British Crown rule to a Confederation, to a Federation, to a Constitutional Republic, heading to be a Socialist Republic?
So, here is my point. A society needs some rules to live harmoniously. Some entity should be established to address those rules. The society should limit that entity to address those specific rules. If the member of the governing entity suggest that with more power, it could do more for the society, That society should be very careful, for if the governing entity does everything for the society that's called a dictatorship.
James Turner 10+
Feyisayo Anjorin 50+
Smaller governments works well in some societies; it is doomed to fail in some others.
James Turner 10+
Rustam Eynaliyev
Bill Grimmette
James Turner 10+
Random Chance 30+
In today's world and the one (whatever that is), that is emerging, more and more of the populace of virtually any country will be dependent upon the (good) will of the people for survival.
There are enough jobs of every variety today, to put almost everyone who can, to work doing something that the world and its inhabitants need and desire.
A problem with that is that many of these jobs no one wants to do and one reason for that is they will not pay enough to live and survive on.
I think government should be small everywhere, without the powers they have usurped from the people and the people have let them take or have.
One benefit may be people will work together, country to country and begin solving their problems, or rather our problems. We all share them, as we are part of the reason for them.
But it goes deeper or is more widespread than that.
The corruption that all governments thrive on must be eliminated everywhere and one great way to do that is to end the global monetary system. Then, we will solve our problems.
James Turner 10+
Ben Jarvis 50+
sure many governments and many areas of other governments have become corrupted by individuals or corporations that seek to further their own interest at the cost of others, such as profiting from sales of supplies to the government that don't benefit the general public, but that's evidence that those individuals and companies are bad, not evidence that government is bad.
James Turner 10+
Ben Jarvis 50+
i get your point about the southern border, though that to me indicates that current policies aren't working rather than government as a whole - this government's failures don't mean that every government will be unable. personally i suggest they quit spending all the money on stop and search of american citizens and use it instead on building a properly impassable border.
really though in the states government isn't all that big compared to many other countries. what is big though is the government spending, basically money that's handed out to corporations to provide services at inflated cost. for example defense spending, it's not really defense spending but defense company welfare. for example mcdonall douglas makes most of its profit from sales to the US government.
you've also got a problem with the minimum wage. people who aren't too bright argue that raising the minimum wage will be expensive for businesses, conveniently ignoring the fact that it will put more money in their customers' pockets which will raise their sales and profits. this would then make working more desirable which would take more people off welfare. in australia the minimum wage is now $15 an hour and our economy is booming. it makes sense if you think about it - the rich don't create jobs, customers do.
James Turner 10+
Mike Colera 10+
I can't speak of other countries, so I'll speak of my own. When our Constitution was written in such a way to contain the size of the Federal Government. Specific limitations were noted and tasks were enumerated. But, in the best intentions, there were holes left for "big government" to crawl through. "Provide for the general welfare" is the phrase that will be the end of America as we know it. Instead of an Army limited to two years, we have one of the largest standing armies for an indefinite period. The general welfare. We have millions of citizens who have been stripped of their dignity and made to feel victimized so they can be provided for their general welfare. Even a simple act of boarding an airplane is now proceeded by an physical attack that is tantamount to a sexual assault in other days for the safety of air travel. All because four groups of fanatics commandeered four airliners and used them as guided missiles.
Now the worse part of this is that, we the people have convinced by the big government politicians to amend our constitution for all the best reasons, but these changes have in some cases expanded the size of the 'Federal Government and weaken the constraints of government growth.
It may be said that if the people were better educated, they can see the growth of the federal government.
But, the federal government has gotten involved in the educational system. The emphasis is on the reasons of citizen victimization,the causes, effects and the perpetrators. The study of civics and history is
/has almost been eliminated.
pat gilbert 50+
As stated education is the answer, I did a Venn diagram on this a while back, education is the only answer. Specifically an education in economics, even a superficial one. Secondly an education about budgets, this subject is full of fallacies.
We really don't care as much about the ideology as we do the cost. Politicians go on and on about ideology and then once elected do things that aren't even close to their campaign promises. We collectively need to put our boot on throats of the politician regarding spending.
Edumacation that is the key.
James Turner 10+
major countries already? The USA probably has the most
college graduates per acre on the world and the govt is huge
and trips over it's own feet most of the time (ie Bengahzi debacle etc)
I agree education is a start but what are the next steps?
Krisztián Pintér 200+
James Turner 10+
Krisztián Pintér 200+
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dzRxRTTyIw
The Libertarian Future | Ron Paul
pat gilbert 50+
You have been posting on TED for a while, have you seen any change in the disposition on this subject?
Krisztián Pintér 200+
pat gilbert 50+
My sense as mentioned by Ron Paul in the video is that there are more people becoming aware of the importance of economic freedom. Although I have to admit I was very depressed by the last election here but then I considered he was an incumbent who won by a much more narrow margin than he should of it gave me some hope that maybe some are waking up.
Krisztián Pintér 200+
but it does not count. you were already on the freedom side.
pat gilbert 50+
I think the most effective tool is a book. You have mentioned a children's book in the past for economics and I have heard Tom Woods mention the same. Most adults have a grade school understanding of this subject so it would be useful to them as well if presented correctly.
But if enough people repeat the meme it will grow and IMO is growing.
James Turner 10+
nation. Do we need all these departments such as USPS
FDA etc to protect national borders? Could all nations develop
systems that protect national borders and let local
business and local govts take care of the rest and
work cooperatively for things like resources, trade,etc.
James Turner 10+
big govt world wide not should we go to a monarchy or other form of government
I apologize if the question was unclear. There is no underlying assumption that a
single person can defend a nation.
george lockwood 20+
ZX Style 10+
Which leads to growing governments.
I only see goverments grow, while the national income is decreasing.
But no-one is really trying to make it smaller.
Thats possibly because you are not assumed to touch someone elses job?
Krisztián Pintér 200+