Government's Helping Hand of Decay

Mark Fisher had an interesting article in Bloomberg Press today about the parallels between Rome's decline as a nation and America. In it he argues that we're reaching a tipping point where decline will be inevitable as a result of permanently poor economic performance, the shrinking military power that accompanies it, and a listless dependent society. Unfortunately there is a lot of truth in his analysis. However, despite recognizing the outcome of our bloated bureaucratic government, as it rapidly takes over every meaningful part of society, Mr. Fisher embodies the mindset that has created the problem.

Unless the government creates a massive jobs program, cuts spending and taxes, and gains control of the national budget and the balance of payments crises, we should fear for our future. Unless our fellow Americans relearn the value of hard work, no government plan stands a chance.

Cutting spending and taxes are all well and fine, but if Mr. Fisher is going to wait on the government to create jobs he'll need to dig in for a lengthy stay. The government can't create jobs that are of any meaningful use to society and various attempts to do so over the years is a big part of why we're in the dismal shape that Mr. Fisher has determined that we're in. Government jobs typically don't produce anything, they simply regulate or engage in other meaningless bureaucratic tasks. Government jobs that do attempt to create something of value inevitably do so less efficiently than the market and usually produces things that society doesn't really want which is a waste of resources.

The government needs to get out of the way. The market can create jobs, but only if a locust swarm of government officials aren't standing by to consume everything that's produced as soon as private citizens finish producing it.