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I've never met anyone say that government does everything right. Can you cite me a source of one politician that has ever said that? Reagan famously said: Th

by skh 8y ago

I've never met anyone say that government does everything right. Can you cite me a source of one politician that has ever said that? Reagan famously said: The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help. I know it was a joke to make a point but the fact is that I've never heard anyone expound that government does everything right. I've never heard anyone expound that cost never matters. Such a statement would be profoundly dumb and foolish. Yet I've heard prominent politicians expound the equally dumb and foolish belief that lowering taxes is always right and that more government is never the answer. I suggest to you that you have never actually heard anyone say that government does everything right. I suggest this is a bogeyman whose existence you've been sold on but one which doesn't actually exist. I further suggest you contemplate how it is that you have come to believe such a thing. Of course I could be wrong. I don't think I am but I recognize that I haven't experienced everything you have and it's possible you've encountered a fanatic who actually said that government is always the answer. You've never heard such a thing from a prominent politician in the U.S. though.

tomohawk 8y ago
Just responding to this hyperbole: > The notion that government can’t do anything right is a destructive one and it needs to die quickly. Privatization in industries that ought not be profit driven is a bad thing. In the cited case of the article, the government was at least as at fault as the contractor. Just because the government contracts something out, doesn't mean that less quality should be expected. In many cases, the government may have the responsibility to do something, but lack the expertise to do it. Should the government go ahead and try to do it anyway? Or, should they try to contract it out? These are not always easy decisions, but in either case, the government is still in charge and is responsible.
- kbenson 8y ago
  The negation of "can't do anything right" is "can do some things right", not "can do everything right". Your original response doesn't really make much sense, since it seems to be responding to an argument that wasn't made.
- skh 8y ago
  The notion that government can’t do anything right is a destructive one and it needs to die quickly. Privatization in industries that ought not be profit driven is a bad thing. There is nothing hyperbolic in this statement. That you think it is hyperbole is evidence to me that we have a long way to go. There are areas that ought not to be privatized. It's pretty extreme to think that everything government does ought to be privatized. It's equally extreme to think that privatization never works. Government can and has done things right. To believe otherwise is foolish and extreme. It is equally foolish and extreme to think government is always the answer. There was no hyperbole in what I wrote. And you've completely sidestepped the points I raised. I gather I was correct in stating that you've never actually heard someone say that government is always the answer.
- deleted 8y ago
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by skh 8y ago

tomohawk 8y ago

Just responding to this hyperbole: > The notion that government can’t do anything right is a destructive one and it needs to die quickly. Privatization in industries that ought not be profit driven is a bad thing. In the cited case of the article, the government was at least as at fault as the contractor. Just because the government contracts something out, doesn't mean that less quality should be expected. In many cases, the government may have the responsibility to do something, but lack the expertise to do it. Should the government go ahead and try to do it anyway? Or, should they try to contract it out? These are not always easy decisions, but in either case, the government is still in charge and is responsible.

kbenson 8y ago
The negation of "can't do anything right" is "can do some things right", not "can do everything right". Your original response doesn't really make much sense, since it seems to be responding to an argument that wasn't made.
skh 8y ago
The notion that government can’t do anything right is a destructive one and it needs to die quickly. Privatization in industries that ought not be profit driven is a bad thing. There is nothing hyperbolic in this statement. That you think it is hyperbole is evidence to me that we have a long way to go. There are areas that ought not to be privatized. It's pretty extreme to think that everything government does ought to be privatized. It's equally extreme to think that privatization never works. Government can and has done things right. To believe otherwise is foolish and extreme. It is equally foolish and extreme to think government is always the answer. There was no hyperbole in what I wrote. And you've completely sidestepped the points I raised. I gather I was correct in stating that you've never actually heard someone say that government is always the answer.
deleted 8y ago
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