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People who advocate for small government often fail to realize many purposes of government such as this. Another purpose is literally to protect us from enslave

People who advocate for small government often fail to realize many purposes of government such as this. Another purpose is literally to protect us from enslavement by our fellow countrymen/countrywomen/countrypersons.

fingerlocks 7y ago
Do they? There is a tremendous amount of conservation effort from many privately funded, non-profit organizations. One could make a convincing argument that The Nature Conservancy, WWF, Sierra Club, et. al. do more work protecting our wildlife and wilderness areas than the government's neglected BLM land. Perhaps small government advocates prefer philanthropy over authority?
- mikelyons 7y ago
  Who is wielding more power? The petroleum industry, or the orgs you mention...? Government needs to be at least as big as the corporations it seeks to regulate, or things get squirrely. This is obviated by problems like campaign finance, Trump, fossil fuel subsidies, etc.
  - kbutler 7y ago
    > Government needs to be at least as big as the corporations it seeks to regulate Why? Does the board need to be as large as the company? Seems like this would eventually lead to (or read as), "The government needs to be at least as big as the sum of the corporations it seeks to regulate".
    - AnthonBerg 7y ago
      The board wields the size of the company.
  - mirimir 7y ago
    The petroleum industry, even the largest individual corporations, wields more power than any NGO. I agree that things get squirrelly when corporations (or NGOs, even) wield more power than governments. That's most obviously an issue when large global corporations mess with small countries. Or small states in the US, for that matter. While it's also an issue even in the US overall, one hopes that antitrust enforcement would kick in before total domination.
- adrianN 7y ago
  If you want to see how well conservation with a weak government works, look to Africa where we have huge problems preserving endangered animals.
- twothamendment 7y ago
  I'm happy to beg the State to come thin (log) the land next to me. I'd hate to see how overgrown and unhealthy it would be if it were up to the Sierra club and friends. The government isn't great at managing forests, but if had my way it would already be done.
- pariahHN 7y ago
  And how exactly do you propose the Sierra Club enforce its decisions? Sharp words and a stern glare? A government brings with it the ability to actually enforce laws, and I think there are sufficient examples in world history as to why the ability to enforce is just as important, if not more, as the ability to legislate. That's partly why we now have the Constitution instead of still using the Articles of Confederation.

fingerlocks 7y ago

Do they? There is a tremendous amount of conservation effort from many privately funded, non-profit organizations. One could make a convincing argument that The Nature Conservancy, WWF, Sierra Club, et. al. do more work protecting our wildlife and wilderness areas than the government's neglected BLM land. Perhaps small government advocates prefer philanthropy over authority?

mikelyons 7y ago
Who is wielding more power? The petroleum industry, or the orgs you mention...? Government needs to be at least as big as the corporations it seeks to regulate, or things get squirrely. This is obviated by problems like campaign finance, Trump, fossil fuel subsidies, etc.
- kbutler 7y ago
  > Government needs to be at least as big as the corporations it seeks to regulate Why? Does the board need to be as large as the company? Seems like this would eventually lead to (or read as), "The government needs to be at least as big as the sum of the corporations it seeks to regulate".
  - AnthonBerg 7y ago
    The board wields the size of the company.
- mirimir 7y ago
  The petroleum industry, even the largest individual corporations, wields more power than any NGO. I agree that things get squirrelly when corporations (or NGOs, even) wield more power than governments. That's most obviously an issue when large global corporations mess with small countries. Or small states in the US, for that matter. While it's also an issue even in the US overall, one hopes that antitrust enforcement would kick in before total domination.
adrianN 7y ago
If you want to see how well conservation with a weak government works, look to Africa where we have huge problems preserving endangered animals.
twothamendment 7y ago
I'm happy to beg the State to come thin (log) the land next to me. I'd hate to see how overgrown and unhealthy it would be if it were up to the Sierra club and friends. The government isn't great at managing forests, but if had my way it would already be done.
pariahHN 7y ago
And how exactly do you propose the Sierra Club enforce its decisions? Sharp words and a stern glare? A government brings with it the ability to actually enforce laws, and I think there are sufficient examples in world history as to why the ability to enforce is just as important, if not more, as the ability to legislate. That's partly why we now have the Constitution instead of still using the Articles of Confederation.