The Role of Government

As we begin to live through the presidential rematch that pits a man who lacks the capacity against a man who lacks the character, I have spent much time thinking about the proper role of government.

A casual observer of late would think our federal government’s main roles are fundraising, partisan investigations, taxpayer-funded hearings that degenerate into childish name calling, and politicians racing to microphones to contort themselves in support of the indefensible.  But I am certain none of that is governing.

Our government was founded by flawed men, to be sure.  But unlike most of our leaders today, our key founders were intellectually curious and voracious readers.  They studied the past and thought critically about the future.  They understood human nature and tried to build a system that could withstand it.  They learned from philosophers like John Locke that free people only consent to be governed because they want to be kept safe in their persons and property.  That is the only reason.  If all people and nations were virtuous, we would not need government.  But they are not and so we consent to be governed with the expectation that government will keep us safe.

Two inherent corollaries follow from our consent.  The first is that we are consenting only to the smallest government possible to effectively fulfill its responsibility.  That does not necessarily mean small government, but it does mean the smallest possible.  The second is that we agree to cede some of our own personal freedoms so that our fellow citizens can feel safe as well.  That is the deal, and it has to be.  Otherwise, we have either ceded too much personal liberty or not enough to make this experiment work.

It goes without saying, then, that the purview of government must include strong national defense, secure borders, international diplomacy, the rule of law, and proper infrastructure for safe travel and free commerce.  And for the good of its citizenry and for its ability to levy appropriate taxes without undue burden, government should foster an environment conducive to the most robust economy possible.

But these cannot be the only functions of government.  Protecting us in our persons must also mean ensuring that water is safe to drink, air is safe to breathe, soil is safe enough to grow healthy food, medicines are safe, and we have access to healthcare.  Protecting us in our property must mean keeping our homes safe from severe weather events and our data safe from scammers.

Our government does not exist, though, to impose one person’s moral or religious beliefs on another.  In fact, our system is designed to separate civil and religious law.  There are countries on earth that do legislate a strict religious code.  But that is not who we are.  It is not freedom.  And their citizens are not consenting to be governed; they are coerced.

Who you love, so long as it is another consenting adult, does not impact the safety of anyone else’s person or property.  How you identify does not impact the safety of anyone else’s person or property.  Having an abortion before viability or ending your life with dignity does not impact the safety of anyone else’s person or property.  I am not saying these things are not important; they are.  I am not saying I do not have an opinion; I do.  I am saying these discussions belong at kitchen tables, in doctor’s offices, and in houses of worship.  They do not belong in the halls of government, neither federal nor state.

We as citizens need to do a better job of deciding what does and does not belong under the purview of government, if not for noble reasons, then because we understand that if we dictate, we can be dictated to.  Not all beliefs need to be legislated, no matter how inflamed our passions become.  And both parties overstep.  With dozens of armed conflicts around the globe, $35 trillion in debt, lingering inflation, a porous border, and more than one mass shooting per day, perhaps we can prioritize what we will and will not let consume our attention.

Most of us will plug our noses this November as we vote for a candidate for president, and then we will cling dearly to hope for 2028.  In a country of 336 million people, we can and will find better.  All will be flawed because they are human.  But let us find some flawed men and women that are intellectually curious, students of history, respect our institutions, understand the true role of government, inspire instead of frighten, appeal to our better angels not our base instincts, eschew partisan fealty in favor of fairly calling balls and strikes, and would neither give away the bank nor risk burning everything down just to win.