Ronald Reagan once said that “Governments first duty is to protect the people, not run their lives.” I think that both sides of the political spectrum need to be reminded of this concept. It seems to me that both sides want more and more control over the lives of the individual. From Socialistic Seeming Social Programs on one side to Radical Religious Fundamentalism on the other, it seems both sides think they could do a better job running our lives then we can for ourselves.
I grew up trying to emulate Michael J. Fox’s character on “Family Ties” whether intentionally or unintentionally. Along with this emulation came an almost blind faith in Ronald Reagan. I was never quite sure why. Maybe it was that I was at an impressionable age back then, maybe it was the fact that Reagan as president was just so presidential in his speaking and mannerisms. or maybe on some deeper level I saw the truth in Reagan’s views on the role of government versus the rights of the individual. I know that my belief in a smaller federal government with less interference in the lives of individual Americans is at the heart of my political ideals.
I see the way things are going now on both sides, from the fairness doctrine and health care reform, to the pro-life movement and a constitutional amendment defining marriage, as attempts at giving the government greater control and taking control away from us. We, as Americans, need to let both sides know that enough is enough. Our rights and our freedoms are just that, ours, and we are not going to tolerate either side trying to take them away from us. We need to remind them that non-interference should be the prime directive.
Another time Reagan said that “Government exists to protect us from one another, Where government has gone beyond its limits is in deciding to protect us from ourselves.” This, along with the other quote, shows that government is needed to protect the individual, not control the individual. I am all for protecting our rights, but when any side of the government sees fit to limit our rights then they truly have gone beyond their limits and the limits we should be willing to tolerate.
Another president once mentioned a “Government of the people, by the people, and for the people.” Notice he made no mention of over the people.
