Government Assistance Debate Guide

From PhiloWiki

Our three major levels of government (national, state, local) pay for a great many features of our life directly or subsidize them. Some items by nature must be handled by govermnents. For example, our national government must, according to our constitution, handle defense and foreign relations. State governments or other entities must handle regional infrastructure for practical reasons.

Government assistance

Judging from the experiences in Scandinavia, the welfare state worked to some extent because it was based in small and ethnically homogenous nations, with a strong cultural and religious (Protestant) work ethic which had just experienced several generations of a booming capitalist economy. These traits kept the system afloat for decades, but the work ethic and the sense of duty slowly got eroded and replaced by a sense of rights, while the high taxation and the passivity bred by the system eroded initiative and the will to take risks. Again, these flaws are inherent to the model. They make time to develop, but they will, eventually.

The Welfare State: The Root of Europe’s Problems from The Brussels Journal  Fjordman

On the other hand there are many government programs which directly affect more personal details of our lives. Where should we draw the lines of responsibility between national, state, regional, county, city, and personal? Some of the following items must necessarily depend on government at some level, but at what level, and why? Others perhaps should be handled personally or by private organizations - business, religious, charity, non-profit, etc.

Consider the following items and determine why each should or should not be funded and/or directed by some level of government (anarchists may discuss whether they personally would be willing to give money towards each item).

• Single mothers under 18, who have parents.
• Single mothers over 18.
• Social security to prisoners with no dependants.
• Social security to persons who have income above some level.
• Subsidized day care centers for government workers.
• Educational system K-12.
• Educational system post high school.
• Double dipping - persons drawing government pensions, still working for the government.
• Persons drawing social security still working for private industry.
• Tax rebates or tax waivers to companies that relocate to a new area.
• Tax rebates to people who relocate to a new area.
• Partial or full payment for building local roads and bridges.
• Replenishing the beaches washed away by the ocean, whether normally or a storm.
• Building levees when the land sinks or sea level rises.
• Subsidize flood insurance in flood-prone areas.
• Pay for national or regional highways, as opposed to user fees.
• Transportation waterways, such as the Mississippi river or canals.
• Railroads, such as Amtrack.
• Trash pickup.
• Drinking water delivery system.
• Electrical system.
• Alcoholic beverages.
• Lottery.