The Consequences of a Smaller Government

In the ongoing US budget discussions, one issue that does not seem to be addressed often is what the actual consequences of a smaller government presence will be for citizens. The main arguments are about taxes, social security, medicare, and other large budget issues for the federal government. However, federal budget reductions will also result in a smaller state and local government, as a lot of discretionary spending that seems likely to be axed is given to these groups. With the current anti-tax rhetoric spewed by people like Grover Norquist, it seems unlikely that extra local taxes will be approved to maintain services in most areas. So, what happens when government is "small enough to strangle in a bathtub?"


Die government!

Well, one example is that over the last couple of months in my city the public safety budget has been targeted for reductions. A few police officer positions were removed and the fire department has been reduced in size as well. A few people complained about this, but for the most part people were willing to let it go instead of having to pay higher taxes.


Maybe the government would have more success with tax hikes if they hired a nicer guy to implement them.

Unfortunately, last weekend five sexual assaults took place, including two rapes. The immediate reaction, of course, was that the reduction to the public safety budget was a terrible idea and the money should have been taken from somewhere else. The problem is that there is nowhere else to take this money from-there just isn't very much discretionary spending left in most budgets. Almost every state and local government has been facing budget issues for years now, there isn't any fat left to trim.


The four or five old guys have retired, everyone else is kind of important.

For another example, almost every government agency that I've been to has a ridiculously long line. Getting the title transferred on my car takes about one to two minutes of actual work, but it took about two hours due to the government office that I had to go to only having four employees to handle dozens of people. As it seems likely that more employees are going to be laid off or not replaced when they retire, the problem is only going to get worse. Maybe I need to order a pizza next time I need to get my driver's license renewed.


Looks like Mr. Norquist would like one too.

Conclusion
It's easy to say that government should be smaller. After all, it saves you money in taxes. The problem is that a smaller government means that when YOU need help you're not going to be able to get it. After all, one man's lifesaving government service is another man's discretionary spending.


What? You want a fire department? What kind of wimp are you!