Government Size

In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself.

James Madison, Federalist No. 51 (1788)

If asked whether our Government is too big, many will reply "yes"'. However, asking if Government is too big is the wrong question. First, it begs a 'yes' or 'no' answer, and that's much too simplistic. Second, that's the wrong way to think of the problem.

The real questions — there are two, not just one — the real questions should be:

1. What societal functions should be performed by Government?
2. What means should Government use to perform the functions assigned to it?

Detailed policy answers to those two primary questions will help determine the right size of Government. Proper implementation of those policies would get us on the road to that size. The longer we think of the question of what Government should be by focusing on size alone, the more trouble we'll have.

Every question begs another question, a continual drilling-down into more complexity. That's the detail I referred to. For my own thinking, I've started—barely started—the outline below:

1. What societal functions should be performed by Government?
1. border control
2. infrastructure
3. judicial
4. law enforcement
5. national defense
6. regulatory
7. standards
8. taxation
2. What means should Government use to perform the functions assigned to it?
1. informational
2. advisory
3. mandates
4. regulations
5. contractual
6. civilian Government employees
7. military service