Does Government Overdo It
By Bob Branco
Was George Orwell right? In his book Nineteen Eighty–Four, which was published in 1949, he predicted that Big Brother would be watching over all of us someday. Not only do I think he was absolutely right, but Big Brother happens to be our own government. Just think of all the ways the government rules us.
Let’s start with technology. As more people go online to do shopping, banking, and other important life tasks, their personal information is revealed for the whole world to see, including our government. If you go to Google Earth, you get to see your own neighborhood, which means that cameras have been installed so that we could find your territory.
Our government has also interfered with what private businesses can do. Though I am thrilled to go into buildings where smoking is not allowed, it was the government that made this smoking ban happen. I’ve also heard that certain restaurant owners have been asked not to serve specific foods or drinks.
Have you noticed that on many applications for services, they now ask you about your ethnicity? What does your ethnicity have to do with qualifying for fuel assistance or paratransit services? Again, welcome to our government.
If these examples aren’t frustrating enough, the government adds insult to injury by charging many small business owners additional property taxes, permit fees, and other charges which put their small businesses at financial risk.
When the government runs our lives, it usually wants more money in order to do it. The more money that government takes from the consumer, the harder it is for the consumer to function. How is this good for our economy? How is this good for each of us? Do we really need to be watched over and told how to run our businesses, our families, and our lives?
(Originally published in Word Matters)
