Dwain Northey (Gen X)

A government’s basic functions are providing leadership, maintaining order, providing public services, providing national security, providing economic security, and providing economic assistance.

This is what I was taught in Political Science but in our current political environment those functions differ based on party in our 2 party system. I genuinely believe that the Democratic Party accepts all these responsibilities and does its best to govern in a manner that is equitable to all citizens. Of course that point could be contested based on one point of view and our nations tumultuous history. I have Republican friends and have asked then pointedly, what the function of Government is, and how their party proposed to govern. Most of them walk way telling me to stop asking “Stupid” questions. I honestly do not believe it is a stupid question.

The current republican party continues scream to the masses that government doesn’t work… then follows that up with, “Elect me and I will prove it.” Lobbyist Grover Norquist is a well-known proponent of the strategy and has famously said, “My goal is to cut government in half in twenty-five years, to get it down to the size where we can drown it in the bathtub.”  That statement is humorous because historically when they are in control taxes on the rich go down, but the size of the debt and government grow. Many tell me that the only functions of government are to levy taxes and provide for the defense of the nation. To wit I understand that as impose taxes on the working and working poor to support an armed forces that only the lower and middle class will serve in order to defend the spoils of the wealthy. Maybe I am being heavy handed in my interpretation of their intention.

Historically republicans want less regulations on corporations The rules for business, they contend, should be left to the market. The free market will always do what is best. That is complete BS, business and untethered capitalism will always do what is best for profit not the public.

Let’s look at current messy situation in Palestine OH. An Obama regulation stating trains carrying hazardous material should have their braking systems upgraded from the 19^th century technology they had in order to protect the public. When the regulation was put in place the railway lobbyist threw so many provisos in the law based on number of cars carrying dangerous material and a cost benefit stipulation. The rail owners need not improve the braking systems if the cost exceed or equaled the benefit of doing so… i.e., if the cost of litigation was less than the upgrade cost then it was a net gain so no need for the improvements to be done. Trump totally rescinded this law, not that many rail owners had done the upgrades to begin with. Prime example of letting the market control itself.

On the same subject the republicans and Fox (Faux) news are crying that neither Biden or his Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg has visited Palistine in the wake of the train derailment. They are also not mentioning that Biden did contact the Governor of Ohio immediately to offer assistance or that during 45’s administration there were more than 1500 derailments, some resulting in loss of life, and that neither Donald or his Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chow ever visited. In fact, this derailment is the first one Donald made an effort to visit, but as a 2024 candidate not the President.  

Today’s elected republican’s are the party of grievance and seem to have zero inclination to govern unless it is to control what teachers can say in the classroom, women’s bodies, and revising history to support their personal version of events. Nikki Haley’s comments typify the party when asked about the Civil War,  “I think you have one side of the Civil War that was fighting for tradition, and I think you have another side of the Civil War that was fighting for change.” Gee that’s a nice way to say slavery was a tradition.

The way most Republican Governors treat their states is that they want to Rule not to Govern, trust me there is a difference. That is exactly what Donald wanted to do, Rule, only he could fix it, was his stance in the 2016 campaign. He was very disappointed that he wasn’t able to do that, and we all say the blow back.

A Democratically elected Government is elected to Govern not to Rule, we all need to remember that.

Govern

verb

1. 1.

conduct the policy, actions, and affairs of (a state, organization, or people).

“he was incapable of governing the country”

Rule

verb

1. 1.

exercise ultimate power or authority over (an area and its people).

“the region today is ruled by elected politicians”