Conservatives, Libertarians, Liberals, Moderates...All Rely on Government

In his comment to an article, one reader asked, "Why do 'minorities' have to rely on the government?" That question perpetuates the misconception that only blacks, browns, other political minorities and poor whites depend on the government for services, and they should be ashamed for relying on the government.

First off, only anarchists theorize their preference for a no-government society, but we know their theory will never work in the real world bigger than the size of my native West African village. The rest of us non-anarchists conservatives, libertarians, independents, moderates, and liberals should be honest with ourselves enough to confess our need for and reliance on government.

Not only do all law-abiding people need and depend on the government, but in our post-empires world, the governments of the global community depend on one another for development aid, loans, military alliances, diplomatic relations, responsible stewardship of weapons and the environment, global security and stability, and so forth.

Back to the individual's leaning on government... Some citizens lean on government for their national defense and security needs. They may be content with just that level of government funding and functioning. Their fellow citizens rely on government to make good laws that maintain an orderly society, to fund police departments that keep crime in check and punish criminals. Still others, who dwell in the economic basement, look to government for social services to make ends meet.

Though some poor people do abuse government programs, the same could be said of their wealthier fellow citizens who use tax loopholes and other insider tricks to blindside not only the government but fellow Americans.

Unless we desire a pre-industrial age economy of life on the farm, there will always be a need for government to give a helping hand to the poor and needy in the same way that government helps even the richest farmers, big banks, big businesses, institutional investors, and other fat cats of our system.

Do those who call on us to "get government out of the way" want a truly "smaller government"? Not really. What they seem to desire is a government that provides those essential services that meet their needs security, good roads and bridges, perhaps quality schools and colleges for their children, etc. However, their smaller menu of government services in no rate them any higher than their fellow citizens who desire social services from their government. Both consumers of government services order different menu items, but both of them continue to place their orders for the government to deliver those services to their liking.

We can debate what level of security or social services government should provide, but that does not belie our reliance on government to some degree or extent. Point: It's not just minorities that depend on the government. WE ALL rely on the government in one way or another, be it for security and/or social services. And WE ALL want that part of the government we rely on to be either 'small and efficient' or 'big and strong'.