Government’s proper business, imo, is to regulate things that have value but need a, well, regulator to make them work well for us all. And to pay for and provide those things that aren’t economically reasonable to pay for individually: Fire departments, armed services, roads, education, diplomacy, libraries, health care…
What does NOT need regulation: Things that people do that cause no harm to others. The obvious thing to avoid is human mating behavior except non-consensual. Also dietary preference, religious behavior and clothing. And “harm to others” does NOT include “I think you shouldn’t do that because it’s against my beliefs”.
Alas, our governments have gotten FAR away from what I believe is their proper business. Mostly they do so by crafting “regulations” that are not even handed but biased in favor of those with too much access to money… and by attempting to regulate things like sexual behavior or use of intoxicants by adults. And by NOT regulating things such as access to firearms (I’m not talking taking away your darn guns. I’m talking REGULATIONS moderating how we have access to or use them). And by not providing for the public good in the way of education and access to health.
Government’s proper business, imo, is to regulate things that have value but need a, well, regulator to make them work well for us all. And to pay for and provide those things that aren’t economically reasonable to pay for individually: Fire departments, armed services, roads, education, diplomacy, libraries, health care…
What does NOT need regulation: Things that people do that cause no harm to others. The obvious thing to avoid is human mating behavior except non-consensual. Also dietary preference, religious behavior and clothing. And “harm to others” does NOT include “I think you shouldn’t do that because it’s against my beliefs”.
Alas, our governments have gotten FAR away from what I believe is their proper business. Mostly they do so by crafting “regulations” that are not even handed but biased in favor of those with too much access to money… and by attempting to regulate things like sexual behavior or use of intoxicants by adults. And by NOT regulating things such as access to firearms (I’m not talking taking away your darn guns. I’m talking REGULATIONS moderating how we have access to or use them). And by not providing for the public good in the way of education and access to health.