What really is the federal government's responsibility?

We've talked before about the role of government, personal responsibility, and the nanny state. Karl at Learning Straight Up has a nice article, "The role of Government is to protect." Beyond securing our borders and protecting us from our enemies, the role of the Federal Government should be very small. Isn't that what true Conservatives believe?

But the most insidious element of protection is the nanny state "protect you from yourself" mentality, and our Federal, State and even City and County Governments are masters of it. [snip]

I liked it better when you grew up, you became an adult and you had to take responsibility for yourself. (more)

Once we get past the "protect" role of government, that's where the debate begins. What should be the responsibility of the federal government, the States, local communities and personal responsibility of individual citizens?

Our government doesn't seem to be controlling the illegals working inside the United States, even at our military bases. “12 illegal immigrants found working at Fort Bliss”, reports PoliPundit, who says:

OOPS! [snip] Only 19,999,988 to go!

Terrorists Have Been Arrested at Texas Border (Stormwarnings Counterterrorism Blog)

Texas Director of Homeland Security, Steve McCraw revealed Wednesday that 6 yrs. after Sept. 11th, people have connected to Hezbollah, Hamas and al Qaeda have been arrested at the Texas border. What will it take to strengthen our border security? Maybe a Texan in the White House cares about border security? Wait! GWB is a Texan...does he care?

Michael Cutler on Counterterrorism Blog alerted me to this when I finally got to read his post from yesterday afternoon:

I want you to take a moment to let the significance of all of this sink in. Our nation is at war with terrorists who have already killed thousands of innocent victims within our nation's borders. The commonly quoted number of victims is approximately 3,000. In point of fact I fear that the ultimate toll will actually be a multiple of that number when you factor in all of the people who are dying of lung diseases and other ailments associated with the various highly toxic pollutants that were released when the buildings at the World Trade Center complex collapsed. And now we see how the open borders of the United States facilitate the entry of terrorists, at a time when "We the People" are being inconvenienced, and our freedoms and expectations of privacy are being significantly reduced. (read it all here)

Maybe the federal government is too busy watching what we eat, drink, do, think, ... to secure the borders. What do YOU think the role of the federal government should be?

United States President George W. Bush is making an effort to find out what the average American is thinking. He met with BLOGGERS this week. It's a nice move, but I don't expect it to change Bush's mind on anything.Infidels are Cool has the list of bloggers, go check it out. My invitation must have gotten lost in the mail, ha. We saw this week how when bloggers apply heat to a subject, we get progress, like the MoveOn.org ad in the NYT.

New to the blogroll and new to the blogosphere, is a really nice site Big Girl Pants. Check it out and give her some encouragement.

Tell me what you think the role of federal, state, and local governments should be?

Comments

[Joe]

Less is better. Limit the money the feds get and you will limit their ability to waste. The military budget should be what is necessary to maintain a military without going to war. Congress should have to approve and add funding to go to war.

[Ralph E.]

snake hunters sez,
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fe...Fi...Foe...Fum

I Smell The Blood Of

The Far-Left Scum

It's MoveOnDotTrash

We'll Push It Hard

And Make Him Crash!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Buy these cute didactic lines; I'll discount it,
for the N.Y. Times.

reb

lazyonebenn.blogspot.com

[Terri]

I'm w/ "Less is More".

[Jack]

I expect the government to provide for the health and safety of the citizens of the good old US of A.

Delineating how far that goes would take far too long.

[Stormwarning]

The federal government's responsibility is a little broader than Grouch says, but not too much. No matter what anyone thinks, it costs money to provide services, including defense. That leads to taxes. Taxes are necessary evil. The methods of taxation are open to debate.

Additionally, beyond defending the shores, there is defense of the homeland. And then there is law enforcement (there has to be a federal element to that).

Also, there is a question of support of science and technology, especially at the very basic problem solving level.

Of course, we can argue from now til the end of the next election and still not agree on whether any other responsibilities are federal and not state/local.

I see a couple of my friends on that list of bloggers with GWB. The blogging influence and element is greater than I ever expected it to be a few years ago.

Tiers of influence...

[Debbie]

Paul: Glad to share the information. That's what blogging is all about.

Kristee: I agree with you. Grouch says, "the less the government does, the better it is for Americans."

If they would do jut ONE thing completely right, like keeping us safe, I'd be happy.

Getting their nose out of how we raise and educate our children is a high priority for most of us.

Thanks for visiting Kristee, and I think you do a great job at your place. I'm a fan of Fred Thompson also.

[Paul Champagne]

I just got back from polipundit's blog. I live about 5 minutes from the Ft Bliss gate and hadn't heard anything in the local media about the 12 illegals working on post.

Thanks for the heads-up.

[Kristee]

Hi Debbie, Fed govt. seems to muck up whatever they stick their noses into. I am definitely for Less is More. My vote is going for whoever I think will be the strongest on our National Defense and crush Islamofascism worldwide.

After that I want my candidate to be one who will keep their hands off my liberties, especially in education and the way I choose to raise my children.

BTW, thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving the nice comment.

blessings,
Kristee

[Grouch at Right Truth]

For me it's pretty simple. The roll of gubment should be:

1. Print Money

2. Defend the shores.

That's about it. They suck at #2.

I'm afraid GWB would not want to hear what I have to say to him.