March 24, 2009
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Government of the people, by the people, for the people
Just out of curiosity, what do you feel the U.S. government owes its citizenry?
For example – do they owe them a safe place to work and live? or does it go further? Does it owe them a place to live and a steady income? Does it owe them health care? Which should be a priority – maintaining a strong military or providing health care?
I am not looking for administration bashing. So don’t tell me how badly Bush’s administration did, or how silly the current administration’s bailout bill is. Just give me your personal feelings about what you think the government of this country owes its citizenry.
Comments (6)
I think they owe us the right to survive, recieve medical care and employment no matter what our financial place in society is. I think changes need ot be made for all of the citizens of the USA to be ableto afford to have a roof over thier head, have maedical care, food, clothing, and the necessities.
Government’s job should be to protect our rights guaranteed by the Constitution. What happened to my family should NEVER EVER HAPPEN to a citizen of the United States. Government should provide EVERYTHING HUMANLY POSSIBLE for veterans. It sickens me to hear about people who have served their country starving to death as a homeless, forgotten person. Or not getting good healthcare or the top of the line prosthetics for the limbs they’ve lost on our behalf, etc. I’d be happier with tax dollars being used to provide good healthcare, too, much like I’ve heard of Canada’s system. I believe capitalism works. So no, we shouldn’t be bailing out auto companies and financial companies who think it’s okay to still give millions away in bonuses to the very people who screwed everythign up.
But I do NOT agree with the above of handouts of homes, jobs, etc. No you don’t have a RIGHT to a job. You have the right to pursue a job and work your ass off, but no…you should not expect to have those things provided for you. I think the system needs to be overhauled, because let me tell you…after working in a medical industry…it absolutely sickens me how much the system is abused (and the patients bragging about their welfare, how they cheat the system, etc) and how much is taken away from those who really need it. I’m tired of the attitude that people have that they DESERVE things given to them. Why? Yes, the government should have programs to help when we’re down and out, but it should be HELP. Not a handout. People do better when they help themselves, but a little extra helping hand can go miles.
Hmmm I can’t seem to put it in one succinct sentence. Sorry! I wrote a mininovel!
@teefahknee - No need to apologize
I enjoyed reading your response. For the most part we agree 
I’ve thought about this all day (well, when I wasn’t working on my statistics assignment
). The first thing that ran through my head when I read this was, “The government owes its citizens to work within a balanced budget, and not the $1.1 trillion or so deficit that the current administration is proposing for next year, nor the $455 billion deficit that we have this year, and so on.”
I think the government owes us not to try to legislate morality. I think the government owes us a level of structure and laws as well as some level of enforcement, mostly because I think that’s what most of the citizens expect of the government. I think the Constitution and the Bill of Rights should be upheld.
I think the government owes the citizens who have served the country (especially the military) – similar to what teefahknee described.
I think everyone should have the opportunity to find a job and earn a decent living, shelter and get enough food to eat. Is it the government’s obligation to do that? I don’t know. Medical care is sticky because I know how well the system doesn’t work here, but it doesn’t work a whole lot better in Canada or England, either.
Good question. I don’t think I have an answer, other than I’ve rarely gotten past the whole fiscal responsibility thing.
@Tyche - I so hear ya on the fiscal responsibility. How can they cut taxes or give money away without cutting spending? I think the biggest problem is that everyone wants a piece of the pie and no matter where they try to cut spending, someone is going to protest.
That reminds me of a quote I heard recently that struck a chord: “Both Republicans and Democrats want big government. They just want that government to do different things.”