A Good Time to Remember What Government Is— and Isn’t

Guest editorial by the TIMES-NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD

With Presidents Day behind us and Idaho Republicans gathering over the next few months for Lincoln Days, let’s talk about something we often take for granted: the proper role of government.

Around here, anti-government sentiment is in the air and water. Many Idahoans look dimly on “the government,” and some even insist we’d be better off without it.

Ronald Reagan’s well-known quote, “...government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem,” is often used as a zippy slogan.

But the truth is more complicated. Reagan’s quote has been lifted out of context for decades. In that same speech — in that same paragraph — he went on to extol “government for, by, and of the people.” He wasn’t arguing for anarchy or the dismantling of the American system: He was warning against a government that forgets who it serves.

Our Founding Fathers were clear about the purpose of government.

In 1776, the Declaration of Independence declared that all people “are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights” and “that to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed.”

Seventy-six years later, Abraham Lincoln pleaded that this “...government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, it’s appropriate to acknowledge the role of government. This milestone provides an opportunity to recognize a government that functions effectively, protects individual freedoms, promotes economic growth, and represents the interests of the population.

For all our criticism, the government has achieved what no individual, family or private company could accomplish alone.

Government plays a vital role in protecting and empowering its citizens through policies that strengthen infrastructure and sustain essential social programs. Workplace and food safety standards shield families from harm, while investments in highways, railways and emergency services fuel economic growth and connect communities. Protections for voting rights safeguard the integrity of our democracy, and programs such as Social Security and WIC support vulnerable Americans. Public education — a core government responsibility — expands opportunity, promotes freedom and equips individuals to build independent, productive lives.

The collective action of government has also shaped history — most notably in the effort to defeat the Nazis and to help rebuild following World War II. Further, government support and research have catalyzed advances in modern medicine, leading to a dramatic increase in life expectancy over the past century.

And perhaps most importantly, our government, in particular, has shown the world how a Republic — a representative democracy — can work to unleash freedom, prosperity, and human potential. Much of the world has followed our lead.

None of these means government is perfect. Far from it. The government is made up of people, and people are imperfect. But at least we live under the rule of law. The alternative is anarchy — or rule by men who look out only for themselves and their cronies. There is a fine line between “rugged individualism” and “only-the-strong survive” chaos. We cross that line at our peril.

The government can certainly become too heavy-handed. At its core, however, our government exists to serve the people. Its role is to guide us with a light touch and to allow us to live and let live.

Civic participation is a responsibility. We cannot survive without each other. A functioning society requires participation, accountability, and a willingness to live within our means. It takes a “we” to lift the collective “me.”

It’s easy to say, “I hate the government.” But before we repeat the slogan, we should remember that the government is meant to be of the people, by the people and for the people.

Who is the government? It is us.