Too Much Government? Just What Would You Cut?

[LibertyEagle]

Those who seek to promote liberty by limiting the power of government often are “floored” with a tricky question, “Very well! Just what would you eliminate?”

It would take a lifetime to answer that question in detail. But it can be answered on principle, leaving some of the difficult details to the questioner.

Read the rest, here:
http://fee.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/cliche51.pdf

[forsmant]

I would cut your budget!

[LibertyEagle]

Is that all? Would you cut out full departments?

[forsmant]

Me! I certainly would not seek to govern all in the first place but if the power fell into my lap I would dismantle all within my power. Which would probably not amount to much. I can't change people but I would like to.

[LibertyEagle]

The 1 page article is interesting, because it illustrates a way to turn the conversation around on people you're talking to, so that they have to defend which liberties they're fine with taking away from fellow Americans. In other words, the onus is placed on them, instead of you having to justify yourself.

[Conza88]

LE, what's your address?

It's time you read For a New Liberty (http://mises.org/rothbard/newlibertywhole.asp).

The answer? The state. But really -

That is good link.

[tangent4ronpaul]

An easier question is what would I leave.

Local, taxed or direct pay:
fire department / EMS
police department
water dept
sanitation dept (including landfills)
upkeep of local roads and highways
MINIMAL local government not able to levy regulations or new taxes!
(to exibit my socialist side, I'd like to add power company and telco to this - privatize these and rates go through the ceiling!)

voluntary via doanations and volunteering:
schools
libraries
meusems
parks and community/recreation centers
elections departments
National guard/militia
courts (NOT able to levy fines)

Federal via funding from states:
skeliton courts, executive office and congress with NO authority to spend money or raise it in other than a declaired war and then not for more then 2 years.

Federal and funded by donations and volunteer labor:
Meusems
Libraries
NASA
R&D
National parks

That was MUCH EASIER!

-t

[lucius]

Read the rest, here:
http://fee.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/cliche51.pdf

All...strip it all back to the founding brothers ideals--except for that Rothschild agent Hamilton--damn fine shooting Aron Burr, then Lincoln...like christmas...when this fine country was born back in April 19, 1775, she had a sharpshooter/sniper as an attending midwife--long short of it, get busy patriots:

http://www.appleseedinfo.org/pics/banner.gif

Welcome to the Appleseed Project, Paying tribute to April 19, 1775, through awareness, learning & marksmanship! http://www.appleseedinfo.org/

http://www.appleseedinfo.org/pics/freds_planRO.jpg

[danberkeley]

LE, what's your address?

It's time you read For a New Liberty (http://mises.org/rothbard/newlibertywhole.asp).

The answer? The state. But really -

That is good link.

EDIT: LE is a libertarian-conservative and her mind doesnt seem open to an-cap.

[LibertyEagle]

Dan, I'm a traditional conservative; which is by definition a libertarian-conservative.

This thread isn't about me, anyway.

[danberkeley]

Dan, I'm a traditional conservative; which is by definition a libertarian-conservative.

This thread isn't about me, anyway.

True dat. I've edited my OP.

[Sematary]

Read the rest, here:
http://fee.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/cliche51.pdf

I'd start with the military by bringing most of the troops in those 130 countries back to the United States.

[Ninja Homer]

Read the rest, here:
http://fee.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/cliche51.pdf

I think people are answering the questions in the thread title without reading the above link. DO read it! It's a very good idea... instead of answering the question and digging a hole for yourself, you flip the question on them.

So if somebody asks you a question like, "What would you cut out of the government?", don't answer it! Even if you know you have the right answers, and can talk all day long about what government programs need to be eliminated, and why it's unconstitutional and illegal, and how it's all an evil plot to take over the world, it's probably not going to change the person's mind unless they're already leaning towards libertarianism.

Just say something simple like, "I'd cut any part of the government that tramples on individual rights of US citizens. What individual rights do you think the government should deny?"

Simple and effective... this is the type of thing that we all need to learn to do better. Thanks LE!

[Mesogen]

This may sound like a nice tactic, but it won't "work" on too many people.

A lot of people don't see certain things as violations of rights. When people say that they have a right to health care and a certain standard of living, they know that this means they have a right to other people's earnings. They say that anyone who makes a certain amount has a responsibility to those who don't. I've heard it over and over. Anyone who doesn't fork over a portion of his earnings (or pays his "fair share" - I hear that one all the time) is evil and has no compassion. And yes, others have a right to his income.

They don't see rights as you see them. That's why this argument doesn't work on them.

[acptulsa]

I often answer the question by saying I'd start with ED (the Department of Education). This leads to an accusation that I'm against education, which gives me a chance to chuckle in their faces. Then I explain that the federal government takes our money, skims a cut off the top and gives it back according to our local school systems' ability to jump through hoops. Then I point out that it was only created in 1980, and American education has been going downhill ever since.

I finish up by saying that all politics is local, it's easier to have influence at a more local level (Obama doesn't know or care you exist, but the city councillor for your district will certainly listen). And I say that I am most interested in cutting the federal government--if you want a state full of socialism, that's your right (assuming most of the people in your state agree) and Europe has proven and is proving that socialism almost works on a small enough scale (but on a big scale it's a recipe for very serious disaster).

[georgiaboy]

...lemme get my chainsaw...