The Proper Role of Government

My brother sent this to me and I think we have some fighting to do. Getting informed is first and involved is the second step. After seeing what the government did with health care I am seriously worried about what else they can get passed. So here is a great read.

THE PROPER ROLE OF GOVERNMENT
by The Honorable Ezra Taft Benson
Former Secretary of Agriculture infamy
[The Eisenhower Administration – ed.]
Published in 1968

THINGS THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT DO
A category of government activity which, today, not only requires the closest scrutiny, but which also poses a grave danger to our continued freedom, is the activity NOT within the proper sphere of government. No one has the authority to grant such powers, as welfare programs, schemes for re-distributing the wealth, and activities which coerce people into acting in accordance with a prescribed code of social planning. There is one simple test. Do I as an individual have a right to use force upon my neighbor to accomplish this goal? If I do have such a right, then I may delegate that power to my government to exercise on my behalf. If I do not have that right as an individual, then I cannot delegate it to government, and I cannot ask my government to perform the act for me.
To be sure, there are times when this principle of the proper role of government is most annoying and inconvenient. If I could only FORCE the ignorant to provided for themselves, or the selfish to be generous with their wealth! But if we permit government to manufacture its own authority out of thin air, and to create self-proclaimed powers not delegated to it by the people, then the creature exceeds the creator and becomes master. Beyond that point, where shall the line be drawn? Who is to say "this far, but no farther?" What clear PRINCIPLE will stay the hand of government from reaching farther and yet farther into our daily lives? We shouldn’t forget the wise words of President Grover Cleveland that "… though the people support the Government the Government should not support the people." (P.P.N.S., p.345) We should also remember, as Frederic Bastiat reminded us, that "Nothing can enter the public treasury for the benefit of one citizen or one class unless other citizens and other classes have been forced to send it in." (THE LAW, p. 30; P.P.N.S., p. 350)

THE DIVIDING LINE BETWEEN PROPER AND IMPROPER GOVERNMENT
As Bastiat pointed out over a hundred years ago, once government steps over this clear line between the protective or negative role into the aggressive role of redistributing the wealth and providing so-called "benefits" for some of its citizens, it then becomes a means for what he accurately described as legalized plunder. It becomes a lever of unlimited power which is the sought-after prize of unscrupulous individuals and pressure groups, each seeking to control the machine to fatten his own pockets or to benefit its favorite charities – all with the other fellow’s money, of course. (THE LAW, 1850, reprinted by the Foundation for Economic Education, Irvington-On-Hudson, N.Y.)
THE NATURE OF LEGAL PLUNDER
Listen to Bastiat’s explanation of this "legal plunder."
"When a portion of wealth is tranferred from the person who owns it – without his consent and without compensation, and whether by force or by fraud – to anyone who does not own it, then I say that property is violated; that an act of plunder is committed!
"How is the legal plunder to be identified? Quite simply. See if the law takes from some persons what belongs to them, and gives it to other persons to whom it does not belong. See if the law benefits one citizen at the expense of another by doing what the citizen himself cannot do without committing a crime…" (THE LAW, p. 21, 26; P.P.N.S., p. 377)

As Bastiat observed, and as history has proven, each class or special interest group competes with the others to throw the lever of governmental power in their favor, or at least to immunize itself against the effects of a previous thrust. Labor gets a minimum wage, so agriculture seeks a price support. Consumers demand price controls, and industry gets protective tariffs. In the end, no one is much further ahead, and everyone sufffers the burdens of a gigantic bureaucracy and a loss of personal freedom. With each group out to get its share of the spoils, such governments historically have mushroomed into total welfare states. Once the process begins, once the principle of the protective function of government gives way to the aggressive or redistribute function, then forces are set in motion that drive the nation toward totalitarianism. "It is impossible," Bastiat correctly observed, "to introduce into society… a greater evil than this: the conversion of the law into an instrument of plunder." (THE LAW, p. 12)

It's my Birthday!

So sad that I have no pictures to share! But since I expect to have a great birthday, it seems to turn out that way. People say that once you get older your birthday just goes by and it is just was another day. Well it doesn't have to be, but it means that it is up to you to make that happen (or you have to have a great sister and a great husband to take care of you), which in my case I do! Lucky me and so sad for all of you!!!! So My birthday started out on Friday night, my birthday was the upcoming Monday, my sister Martha came down from Idaho and set up a party for my sister Sarah and me. Sarah and I are 5 years and 1 day apart. So I have always shared my birthday with her. So anyways, we went ice skating first. This was my grand idea, I haven't been ice skating for 11 years and I am pregnant. So really what was I thinking. I get out on the rink, really slow at first, but then after an hour I feel comfortable, and my sisters want to do a train, we were being silly girls anyway, so a train is a great idea right. Well after just a moment I realize that I am not ready for a train, and so I let go, lose my balance and fall spread eagle, and face plant onto the ice. OUCH! It was a bad fall, but my nerves got to me and I worried about the baby and it really hurt. So I couldn't get control of my emotions and I get off the rink and head towards the bathroom, lock myself in the stall, and started to cry and shake uncontrollably. I couldn't calm down. It really wasn't that bad but I still couldn't stop. So Martha got me out of the stall and calmed me down. But I was done skating for awhile. But man was a sore and my back was all whacked out. Good old Dr. Bill (my chiropractor) would be seeing me on Monday. Then off we went to my sister Marys house. We had treats and talked until 2:30 in the morning. Wow, we could of been there all night. We dove into some raw emotions, we love to do that. Crying and laughing. So we had a great time. Then the next morning Martha and Lynna and Jared and me had to be up by 6:30am to go get our Bountiful Baskets (you get a lot a produce for $15) but we had to get up and go get it after a late night. I probably would of been better off not sleeping at all. Then Martha and I went to breakfast. It was really nice. Then on Sunday, Jared and Lynna invited the adults over for cake and ice cream. Sunday was Sarah's bithtday and we stayed and talked for awhile. Then Monday morning! Yeah! why I care, I don't know, but I still get excited for my birthday. So Jeff let me sleep in and made breakfast. Tina, Jeff's sister came down from Logan (it was her spring break) and for her gift to Jeff and I she watched our kids for the day. Isn't that the nicest gift ever! So as I got ready Jeff took the boys to All A Dollar so the boys can pick out my gift. When they got home they had gotten decorations as my gift and were ready to decorate. So Jeff had a lunch appointment and I had to go to the chiropractor and the had lunch with Mary and she then took me and got me some exercise pants for my present. Since I am trying to stay working out during this pregnancy. Then I met up with Jeff and we went and got massages at Remedez and the off to a movie, Leap Year, a perfect chick flick, and then home for cupcakes with Tina and the boys. After we got them to bed, Jeff and I went to dinner at Happy Sumo. It was a great day, especially after a stressful week. It was one of my best birthdays yet. Last year was equally as good though. So not that everyone wanted to know all that, but for my sake I want it recorded that you can have a great birthday still, you just have to want it and help plan it. So until next year. Happy Birthday Sarah, Jeff and Me!