Three recent stories regarding three government agencies -- the IRS, the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA), and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
-- show why we should oppose big government for practical, as well as philosophical,
reasons.
In recent months, many Americans have missed their flights because of longer-than-usual
TSA security lines. In typical DC fashion, the TSA claims the delays are because
of budget cuts, even though Congress regularly increases the TSA's funding!
The TSA is also blaming the delays on the fact that few Americans have signed
up for its "PreCheck" program. Under PreCheck, the TSA considers excusing some
Americans from some of the screening process. Those who wish to be considered
must first submit personal information to the TSA and pay a fee. Only a bureaucrat
would think Americans would be eager to give the TSA more information and money
on the chance that they may be approved for PreCheck.
The TSA is much better at harassing airline passengers than at providing
security. TSA agents regularly fail to catch weapons hidden by federal agents
testing the screening process. Sadly, Congress will likely reward the TSA's
failures with continued funding increases. Rewarding the TSA's incompetence
shouldn't surprise us since the TSA owes its existence to the failure of government
to protect airline passengers on 9/11.
If Congress truly wanted to protect airline passengers, it would shut down
the TSA and let airlines determine how best to protect their passengers. Private
businesses have a greater incentive than government bureaucrats to protect
their customers and their property without stripping their customers of their
dignity.
The head of the VA also made headlines last week when he said it is unfair
to judge the VA by how long veterans have to wait for medical care, since no
one judges Disney World by how long people have to wait in line. Perhaps he
is unaware that no one has ever died because he waited too long to go on an
amusement park ride.
For years socialized medicine supporters pointed to the VA as proof that
a government bureaucracy could deliver quality health care. The stories of
veterans being denied care or receiving substandard care demolish those claims.
If Congress truly wanted to ensure that veterans receive quality health care,
it would stop forcing veterans to seek health care from a federal bureaucracy.
Instead, government would give veterans health-care vouchers or health savings
accounts and allow them to manage their own health care. Congress should also
dramatically reduce the costs of providing veterans care by ending our militaristic
foreign policy.
Another story last week highlights the one thing government does do well:
violate our rights. The House Judiciary Committee held a hearing on impeaching
IRS Commissioner John Koskinen over his role in the IRS's persecution of conservative
organizations.
Those who value liberty and constitutional government should support impeaching
Koskinen. However, truly protecting Americans from IRS tyranny requires eliminating
the income tax. Despite the claims of some, a flat tax system would still require
a federal bureaucracy to ensure Americans are accurately reporting their income.
Since the income tax is one of the foundations of the welfare-warfare state,
it is folly to think we can eliminate the income tax without first dramatically
reducing the size and scope of government.
The TSA, VA, and IRS are just three examples of how government cannot effectively
provide any good or service except authoritarianism. Individuals acting in
the free market are more than capable of providing for their own needs, including
the need to protect themselves, their families, and their property, if the
government gets out of the way.