Welcome to the October Law and Business issue of NorthBay biz magazine. In addition to all the stories this month, there’s a special report on Uncommon Entrepreneurs. Also, please enjoy all the new special features and new columns in the area’s only locally owned, formerly glossy business publication. You can rely on NorthBay biz as your local source for business news and information and “where helping grow your business isn’t just something we do… It’s all we do!”
It’s my contention that most of the country’s enervating problems—the deficit and debt, job creation, immigration, the shrinking middle class, the expanding welfare class, rudderless foreign policy, energy and environmental policy—have been exacerbated, if not wholly created, nationally and internationally, by the malfeasance inherent in “big government” governance. I know, I know, we’re supposed to judge every policy and program by the good intentions of its authors, but given the shape the country’s in, it’s past time to start judging a program by its results. And if you look at the results of any of the above, you’d be hard-pressed to point out even a partial success anywhere.
As we look to assess results, we face these hard facts: 90 million Americans unemployed, a $17 trillion deficit, a languishing economy, a new national health care system filled with empty promises, a faltering public education system, emerging chaos on our southern border, multiple federal government departmental scandals, crumbling infrastructure, an alarming number of new fighting hot spots in the Middle East and Russian insurgence in the Ukraine.
Stuff is hitting the fan here and around the world. Encouragingly, there’s been some reluctant admission by our elected leaders that, indeed, we’re facing some tough problems, instead of the usual, “everything is fine or getting better.” However, for me, here’s the scary part: Now we’re supposed to trust the same people who, in large part, created these problems, to fix them.
My lament continues to be that our elected representatives’ first and overriding concern is the perpetuation of their personal and political party’s power. Gone are the days when our elected officials really represented us and worked to find solutions to the problems in their constituent’s district and state. Hell, back in the day, politicians actually could cross the aisle and find compromise with the opposing party that benefitted the average Joe. Now, compromise is viewed as a weakness—not worth the effort nor allowed by party bosses. Step out of line and not do as you’re told, and the party won’t come up with any money to help you win your next election. Besides, working together to solve common problems might take time away from serving big-dollar-donating special interests.
Constituent welfare and the average citizen’s best interests always take a backseat to this primary goal—perpetuation of power. This statement is an across the board indictment. It matters not at all whether the politician is republican or democrat. Both parties strictly adhere to this “what’s in its self-interest first” mandate. Actually, this attitude is a shining example of both parties finally finding something they can agree upon—maybe the only one I can think of. Who said bipartisanship is dead?
And again, regardless of the political party in power, government solutions to problems they helped create always involve “big government” getting “bigger”—creating yet another detached, centralized, bloated bureaucracy, whose driving priority is to ensure its own existence to provide the answer.
When our nation was founded, it was a poor nation struggling to come up with a formula, an environment conducive to opportunity, where individual improvement and success could be attained. The Constitution provided for the creation of a limited federal government, private property rights, the rule of law and free markets. Over time, by observing these founding principles, the nation became rich—a world leader. This status was achieved by following the precepts of our founding documents, long before the advent of today’s enormous federal government, which now interprets the Constitution to hold sway in large swathes of our lives never intended by the founders of this nation.
The basic establishment of a limited federal government, whose peoples were allowed to prosper unfettered in a free market environment, is the simplest explanation of our nation’s success and wealth. The growth of government is the simplest explanation of why the nation’s greatness is in retreat.
That’s it for now. Enjoy this month’s magazine.
