What is the Proper Role of Government?

Government, there might not be a word that inspires more opinion or passion as this single word. What is it about the concept of government that inspires so much emotion? Why does the idea of government cause so many people to spend so much time and energy trying to understand its place and function in our world?

The answer is pretty self evident when you think about it. We spend so much time trying to understand the role of government because government has a great deal of influence in our lives. While there are some people that would say you can have a world without government, most people seem to want at least some government in their lives. Yet, while many people agree that government is a benefit, there is a great deal of argument over exactly what government should and shouldn't do. Look at the evening news or your face book page and you will see that there are as many views on what the government should look like and what it shouldn't do. While they may not realize it, most people are arguing about one simple question. What is the proper role of government?

Whenever I think about this question, as an American I think about the first three words in the Constitution, we the people. These three words truly do sum up what the role of government should be in the United States. Like Abraham Lincoln said in the Gettysburg Address our government is of the people, by the people, for the people and it shouldn't be any other way. In other words, the proper role of government is exactly what we the people decide it is, and we decide what it is through the democratic process of voting.

Is a government by the people a perfect thing? No, people are not perfect and their government won't be either. However, I would much rather live in a nation where I have a voice in what my government is and what my government isn't than to live in a nation where laws are made without my say so. Does this mean I always get things the way I want them? No, but it does mean I have a voice either way and that is better than not being allowed a voice.

In the end, I really do believe that the proper role of government is whatever we decide it is. While this doesn't always make people happy, it does hold to the spirit in which our country was founded, and that is to create a country in which the people determine the course of their government.