what if big government really can...

the popular view for many years has been that big government is inherently bad. there are many reasons for this, and i'm sure that this view is not without some justification. but for a moment, let's try to consider that government involvement could be beneficial and desirable.

let's consider, first of all, what the founding fathers had in mind when they set up the framework for our republic. the constitution begins with the words 'we the people of the united states.' government was not intended to be some adversarial entity, it was to be all of us, in it together. why were they setting up this framework? they give us the answer, first and foremost, 'in order to form a more perfect union.' the founding fathers were alluding to the best of eighteenth century utopianism. they believed that all of us, together, could accomplish more than any one of us could dream. it is this belief that has built and sustained our nation through the trials of the past and it is this belief which must unite us if we are to solve our current problems.

the constitution sets forth the following objectives: 'establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity'

establishing justice, insuring domestic tranquillity, providing for a common defence, and promoting the general welfare of the people are the means by which we secure the blessings of liberty for ourselves and our posterity.

does our current president's plans for economic stimulus mesh with the constitutional objectives? yes. does the providing universal health care for our citizens mesh with the constitutional objective of promoting the general welfare? again, the answer is yes, but one would be hard pressed to gather that from the flatulent orations of those who have directed the ship of state toward the icebergs.

the admission that where we are now is precisely where the principles of the reagan revolution led us is no doubt difficult for the 'true believers,' but the fact remains that we are where we are because we took that path. maybe it's time for us to adopt the outlook of our founding fathers. maybe all of us together really can accomplish more than any one of us could dream.