89 online
 
Most Popular Choices
Share on Facebook 23 Printer Friendly Page More Sharing
OpEdNews Op Eds    H3'ed 5/14/11

Horray for government! It's time to market government.

By       (Page 1 of 1 pages)   1 comment
Follow Me on Twitter     Message Don Smith
Become a Fan
  (21 fans)

For decades conservatives have been badmouthing government. They've been intentionally mismanaging and corrupting it, to turn people against government.

It's time to stand up and shout:

Horray for government!

I was reminded of this on my back from work the other day.  Coming down the stairs to the bus tunnel at Westlake Station in Seattle, there was a middle-aged woman in distress.  She was throwing her self against the railing, and she seemed to be crying. Her clothes were partially undone, exposing her rear end.

Knowing that there's always a security guard down at the track level, I descended the steps and made a bee line to the guard, a big man, who listened with concern as I told him what I'd seen.  He was gentle, not surly like some guards.  I followed him to the steps, since I was curious, and another woman stopped him to tell him the same story.

There are millions of Americans who need help like that lady did.

Another example of why we need government is evident from the story Alabama's GOP Delegation Voted Against Funding for Tornado Forecasting. Natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes remind us of why we need government.

During the 2008-2009 sub-prime crisis, it was government that came to the rescue.

See the websites Government is Good and Government is Great! for more discussion and examples of why we should be grateful for government.

There's always been conflict in America between those who want a small federal government (Jeffersonians) and those who want a strong central government (Federalists).  But modern day conservatives have gone too far. They want to minimize not only the federal government but also state governments, so that they can transfer more money and power to the super-rich.  

Conservatives see only the bad things about government and overlook all the good that it does.  

The Preamble to the US Constitution lists "promote the general Welfare" as one of the purposes of forming a more perfect union.  And the Taxing and Spending clause states "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States."

US Flag
US Flag
(Image by Don Smith)
  Details   DMCA

Besides, it's under conservative rule that government is most wasteful and corrupt. Witness what happened when Republicans controlled Congress and the White House during the first six years of the second Bush presidency:  reckless deregulation, no bid contracts, socialism for the rich, privatization to politically connected corporations, hundreds of billions of dollars wasted in unnecessary foreign wars, widespread corruption, etc, etc. 

Something the Left sorely needs: better marketing of government as a force of good.

Accordingly, I suggest that the Left should begin an advertizing campaign with slogans like:

  • Thank God for government.
  • Horray for government!
  • Government: there when you need it
  • Without government, we'd be hunter-gatherers.
  • Thanks to government we have law & order, clean water, seat belts, and the Internet.

How about a competition to come up with the best slogans and ads and music videos and songs celebrating government?

What are some examples you can think of for why we need government? What slogans do you suggest?

Rate It | View Ratings

Don Smith Social Media Pages: Facebook page url on login Profile not filled in       Twitter page url on login Profile not filled in       Linkedin page url on login Profile not filled in       Instagram page url on login Profile not filled in

Democratic Precinct Committee Officer, activist, writer, and programmer. My op-ed pieces have appeared in the Seattle Times, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and elsewhere. See http://WALiberals.org and http://ProgressiveMemes.org for my (more...)
 

Go To Commenting
The views expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of this website or its editors.
Writers Guidelines

 
Contact AuthorContact Author Contact EditorContact Editor Author PageView Authors' Articles
Support OpEdNews

OpEdNews depends upon can't survive without your help.

If you value this article and the work of OpEdNews, please either Donate or Purchase a premium membership.

STAY IN THE KNOW
If you've enjoyed this, sign up for our daily or weekly newsletter to get lots of great progressive content.
Daily Weekly     OpEd News Newsletter
Name
Email
   (Opens new browser window)
 

Most Popular Articles by this Author:     (View All Most Popular Articles by this Author)

Don't buy from Fox News advertisers: Progressive, Capital One, Applebees, IHOP, Match.com, Angie's List, Home Advi

The myth that the Dems are as bad as the Repugs

Why Abortion Isn't Murder

Why Dems should be furious at Obama

Image essay about blood soaked NRA

Government is like a computer's operating system: a response to libertarians

To View Comments or Join the Conversation:

Tell A Friend