This letter is a response to Greg Devries’ Feb. 26 Boulder Monitor editorial. Greg seems to have a low opinion of government, that it digs pits for us and shackles us with chains. We have made the state into a deity, but it is consuming our children’s inheritance like locusts. Not a pretty picture.
One small problem with villainizing government is that we, the people, are theoretically an integral part of the government: we have a government of the people, by the people and for the people. So when bad mouthing “The Government,” he is ridiculing the everyday voter, legislator and government employee trying to fight for the general welfare of all the people.
He promotes the private sector as being a good replacement for government by offering this hypothesis: “If a job is essential, the private sector will offer it.” Well then, consider equal rights for all – does the private sector offer that? No, but it does offer higher and higher housing costs forcing low-wage earners onto the streets. How about fair wages for all – does the private sector offer that? No, but it does offer to make the rich richer and the poor poorer. And freedom from environmentally dangerous practices – does the private sector offer that? No, but it does offer to invade and trash Indian lands, then sell us all more plastic trash cheaply. Finally, freedom from war – does the private sector offer that? No, but it does offer to make and sell landmines for a profit and hire mercenaries to get money from taxpayers to make war for a profit.
