The views and opinions expressed in this editorial article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of Salina Post or Eagle Media. The editorial is intended to stimulate critical thinking and debate on issues of public interest and should be read with an open mind. Readers are encouraged to consider multiple sources of information and to form their own informed opinions.
By: SCOTT HILL
24th District Kansas Senator
In the fantasy world of Hollywood, actors have a role to play, imitating a make believe, or in some cases, a real character. In real life we each have roles that define who we are. It may be the role of a mother, a father, or another caretaker. It may be the role of an inventor to make other people’s lives easier. The role of the farmer or rancher is to feed the world. An investor or banker makes people’s dreams come to life. Teachers and authors provide a transfer of information from one generation to the next. Each of the roles fulfilled by members of our communities are important. The synergy of many individuals accomplishing diverse tasks combined is what makes an economy work. While the bright lights of Hollywood make acting roles appear glamorous, the true strength of our economic system rests in all of the individuals who accomplish their roles with pride and excellence.
The different units of government also play a role in making America the greatest nation on earth. While individuals define their own role, government has a role that is dictated by the defining ideas of a nation. Two hundred and fifty years ago, our country embarked on a perilous journey of defining the role of a very different kind of country. Today, because of the success of that journey we have the luxury of assigning many roles to government that were not originally intended. Some of these roles have redeeming consequences, while others may not. It is important as we look at policy for the future to examine the roles of government, not just in light of how they have evolved, but in a logical analysis of the function of government.
The framers of the Constitution made it very clear that they wanted limited influence by the Federal government in their lives. Thomas Jefferson in his inaugural address said, “a wise & frugal government… shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned.” Using that guiding principle, the Constitution primarily focused on the protection of rights for the citizens. Article IV, Section IV makes this very clear: “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a republican Form of Government, and shall protect each of them against Invasion; and on the Application of the Legislature, or of the Executive (when the Legislature cannot be convened) against
domestic Violence.” This strong statement of protection is asserted as the primary role of the central government.
The current Federal budget does contain around $1T for the defense of our country. This week the Senate approved a $901B Defense Authorization Bill. That amount accounts for about 13% of the overall budget. The largest item in the budget, though, is not for the security of our borders. In fact, the largest item in our federal budget was not even considered in our Constitution. We spend over $2T, nearly one quarter of every federal dollar, on health insurance. We also spend 13% of our hard-earned tax money to service the interest on our growing debt, which incidentally is accumulating at a rate of over a trillion dollars per year.
The roles that our United States government has assumed in the 250 years of our country have gone way past protecting the enumerated rights envisioned by the founders. We have become a nation that borrows money to buy votes. It is popular to provide free or reduced-price services to voters. People generally like it when the government sends them a check instead of the other way around. The rapidly accumulating federal debt, however, should make us realize that economic stability is not achieved, either on a personal level or a national government level, by borrowing to provide services we cannot afford. The share of the national debt is approximately $125,000 for every man, woman, and child in our country. That means that if you live in a family of four you owe half a million dollars to pay off the debt your country has accumulated. The role of a nation should be to protect its citizens, not expose them to federal bankruptcy.
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