additional debate over health care reform

[cjbcpa]

Modern civilization requires cooperation, not reliance.

I'm in favor of some limited "cooperation". I want only as much government as we need, not as much as we want. In that respect I line up with Mike. Defense, Treasury, the Judiciary. These are the functions of government. Libraries? the Arts? Student Loans? Mortgage Interest Deductions? Come on, that's not government. Nice, maybe, necessary, no way.

Education; its necessary to succeed but not a right. You're a lawyer, what article of the Constitution talks about that?  Should everyone have some? Absolutely. Am I willing to contribute some of my resources to achieving it? Absolutely, if they're used effectively. Unfortunately that's not the case. Every time the government rolls out a program to "help" some group or segment of the economy the end result is a massive growth in the bureaucracy and a steep increase in the price of whatever products or services were involved. Things get tweaked over time, But the bureaucracy remains and the taxpayers end up with the tab for inferior service, greater cost, and higher taxes.

The private sector, aka capitalism is brutally efficient. Capital goes to were its treated best and produces the maximum result, unlike the government, where it goes unwillingly and is primarily wasted.  If the world needed libraries, the private sector would find an opportunity and presto, there will be libraries. But don't force me to fund a service that's nice to have

Do we need rules to avoid excesses, of course. The place where there are apparently no limits to the excess is the government. Name one program, that is not an essential government activity, that the government does better than the private sector and I'll buy all your beer at NJMSP on the 29th, you name the brew.