The role of the government is simple. This is because a simple government works best, and that can only happen if it is small government. Its hard to argue that we need a strong, central government to watch over the States. The first model of American government, the Articles of Confederation, gave too much power to the states. The problems with the Articles started when each state began coining their own money and building their own militias. The United States Constitustion was adopted to provide a federal government that would settle this problem. It is also a model of what an ideal American government is.
The federal government is to maintain the Congress that passes legislation that becomes the general law of the United States. These laws must be in line with the Constitution as not to violate individual rights. Congress sets the budget (or is supposed to) for the country, handles treaties with other nations, and authorizes war. Congress is made of politicians elected from the states. The Supreme Court judges a law constitutional or not, and handles cases on a national scale. The President is the leader of the U.S and appoints individuals to positions, as well as vetoing any law he does not agree with. The states themselves run on a scaled down version of this, with a Governor, lawmakers, and courts, and mayors. The federal government also maintains the national army, while cities and states maintian police departments and garbage clean up.
When the government stays in these limits, the country can prosper. When the public sector begins over regulating the private industry and personal lives is there an issue. You cannot tell a person what they can and cannot buy, nor can you try to support a business that is failing. In a free market, people buy like they please, and so money is made. In a free market, if a business is not longer doing well, a new business comes to replace it. The Obama administration attempts to do these things, and the results are less then stellar. The national healthcare law not only forces people to buy healthcare, it also puts a strain on the industry to support an entire nation when there may not be enough doctors to do so. The taxes needed to pay for this is not what this country needs either. The stimulus did next to nothing, GM is limping along and the taxpayer dollars given to them was wasted. This is not to say the government shouldnt make sure a company is cheating its customers or food shouldnt be safe to eat. But to attempt to control everything means it grows, and when a government grows, taxes go up to help it go. The only way the U.S government can run effectivly is if it does what it was made to do. That is keep a central currency, army, and laws. Let people handle the rest. Such a small government also limits corrupt politicians, as they have little room to move in.
Facts:
The U.S government was made to avoid the all controlling model of the British monarchy
Private sector jobs require spending on a product, which leads to products people want. Government jobs require taxes, which hurts people.
Yes I may be a bit biased.
