Some steps to limit size of government

There is a fair question is circulating these days which might permit a rare civil discussion. What precisely are some ideas for shrinking the size and scope of government and thus reduce its costs?

Government under our Constitution is supposed to perform only those activities individuals or states cannot, primarily the regulation of interstate commerce, national defense and conducting relations with foreign nations.

A short list comes to mind:

• Resign as the world's cop. Europe, Korea, Japan and just about everyone else should defend themselves. Freedom is a treasure bought with blood and defended with jealous resolve.

• Return powers to the states.

• Pass a balanced-budget amendment.

• Pass a term limits amendment. We need to eliminate the professional political class and return government to the people.

• Give the president a line-item veto

• Eliminate subsidies, and all forms of welfare, beginning with corporate welfare.

• Scrap the existing tax structure and move toward anything that puts more money in the hands of people who earn it.

Yes there must be government and yes it must be funded. But the cruelest and most unnecessary activity anyone can undertake is to do for others what they are perfectly capable of doing for themselves. In other words, if you need a hand the best one can be found at the end of your own arm.

Steve Quick

Arlington Heights