THE FUNCTIONS OF GOVERNMENT
By Kermit C. Moss
Mercy me, sakes alive, and carrot coffee! Just what is government and what are its proper functions? These questions, of course, have been around for a long time, but never have they been more important than now. So let us look at them.
Government consists of people working together to solve mutual problems, and its function, as seen from this keyboard, is to do those things that need to be done, for the good of the people, but cannot or will not be done by the private sector. Immediately we think of roads, schools, law enforcement, and the military, but what about providing jobs for the unemployed? Jobs for men and women who are able to work, want to work, prepared to work, need to work to support themselves and their families, but for whom the private sector provides no work opportunity. Nothing will destroy a man any quicker than long periods of time during which he cannot supply the needs of his family for food, shelter, and clothing!
It seems here that a government does have and should have that obligation. Already I feel the howl of “socialism,”, but it ain’t so, Joe! I believe that we should preserve as much of the capitalistic system as it is possible to do, with close regulation to keep down the evils of human greed, then the government should start providing jobs all over the country. There is certainly enough work to be done, and the stimulus package and the Obama budget are making a start.
I hereby propose that we give consideration to setting up a “production reserve” into which all unemployed persons would quickly flow and be put to work. The success of such a program would, of course, depend on its successful management, and we have people that can do that.
How would we finance it? By demanding support from the people and activities where the money is!
Let us get on with it!
Kermit C. Moss
PO Box 1136
Monticello, AR 71657
PH 870-367-2486 - office
870-367-7034 - home
March 21st, 2009
