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What Does the Government Do Well?

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What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby BigTex » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 00:07:32

I was thinking about it earlier, and I couldn't think of anything that the government does really well. Anything the government does, either directly or through contractors, seems to take longer, cost more and not work as well as we would like.

Local fire departments do a good job of putting out fires and taking care of injured people, I suppose.

Some local police departments do a good job of keeping order.

Some state universities are pretty good.

A lot of states seem to be good at building prisons and housing "criminals."

It's ironic that even though government doesn't function especially well, every government seems to grow as fast as its citizenry will allow. Not too many governments voluntarily shrinking out there.

Maybe someone else can think of some other things that government does well.
:)
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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby greenworm » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 00:15:32

Steal.
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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby killJOY » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 00:16:04

LIE.
Peak oil = comet Kohoutek.
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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby greenworm » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 00:16:58

Kill.
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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby mmasters » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 00:36:12

Cheat.
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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby eastbay » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 00:38:15

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('BigTex', 'I') was thinking about it earlier, and I couldn't think of anything that the government does really well. Anything the government does, either directly or through contractors, seems to take longer, cost more and not work as well as we would like.

Local fire departments do a good job of putting out fires and taking care of injured people, I suppose.

Some local police departments do a good job of keeping order.

Some state universities are pretty good.

A lot of states seem to be good at building prisons and housing "criminals."

It's ironic that even though government doesn't function especially well, every government seems to grow as fast as its citizenry will allow. Not too many governments voluntarily shrinking out there.

Maybe someone else can think of some other things that government does well.


The US government does a very commendable job of bombing countries. Five stars on that point.

The USA's occupation skills aren't quite as good, however. One star only.
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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby BigTex » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 00:41:55

Think about an organized crime "protection" racket.

Think about how the government is exactly the same thing, except rather than protection money, it's called taxes.

Who are you getting protection from by paying the taxes?

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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby BigTex » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 00:43:21

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('BigTex', 'I') was thinking about it earlier, and I couldn't think of anything that the government does really well. Anything the government does, either directly or through contractors, seems to take longer, cost more and not work as well as we would like.

Local fire departments do a good job of putting out fires and taking care of injured people, I suppose.

Some local police departments do a good job of keeping order.

Some state universities are pretty good.

A lot of states seem to be good at building prisons and housing "criminals."

It's ironic that even though government doesn't function especially well, every government seems to grow as fast as its citizenry will allow. Not too many governments voluntarily shrinking out there.

Maybe someone else can think of some other things that government does well.


The US government does a very commendable job of bombing countries. Five stars on that point.

The USA's occupation skills aren't quite as good, however. One star only.


I'll bet the private sector could bomb countries better than the government.
:)
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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby eastbay » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 00:47:41

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('BigTex', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('BigTex', 'I') was thinking about it earlier, and I couldn't think of anything that the government does really well. Anything the government does, either directly or through contractors, seems to take longer, cost more and not work as well as we would like.

Local fire departments do a good job of putting out fires and taking care of injured people, I suppose.

Some local police departments do a good job of keeping order.

Some state universities are pretty good.

A lot of states seem to be good at building prisons and housing "criminals."

It's ironic that even though government doesn't function especially well, every government seems to grow as fast as its citizenry will allow. Not too many governments voluntarily shrinking out there.

Maybe someone else can think of some other things that government does well.


The US government does a very commendable job of bombing countries. Five stars on that point.

The USA's occupation skills aren't quite as good, however. One star only.


I'll bet the private sector could bomb countries better than the government.


That's certainly a debatable point BT. But there is little doubt that the private sector (as much as I hate to admit it... lol) could conduct an occupation better than the US government. Way better, in fact.
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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby TWilliam » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 03:42:40

Maximize spending while minimizing public benefit.
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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby emersonbiggins » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 11:29:12

I'll be the first to admit that governments build highways and roads pretty well, if only because they get a lot of practice at it.

Maintaining those roads under duress, however...
"It's called the American Dream because you'd have to be asleep to believe it."

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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby kpeavey » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 12:57:07

Keep secrets and redirect attention in order to maintain Control.

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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby BigTex » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 13:10:16

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', 'I')'ll be the first to admit that governments build highways and roads pretty well, if only because they get a lot of practice at it.

Maintaining those roads under duress, however...


Note how the best roads are toll roads, though.
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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby emersonbiggins » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 23:34:19

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('BigTex', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('emersonbiggins', 'I')'ll be the first to admit that governments build highways and roads pretty well, if only because they get a lot of practice at it.

Maintaining those roads under duress, however...


Note how the best roads are toll roads, though.


I agree, but those (in TX & OK) are still operated as quasi-governmental entities, given certain powers of state like eminent domain and condemnation. Plus, they are patrolled by state troopers.
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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby smallpoxgirl » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 23:39:32

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 's')teal

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'k')ill

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'c')heat

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'l')ie



You guys took all my answers. :razz:

I'd add that they do a very nice and convincing job of staging mock elections. Really makes people feel involved.
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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby eastbay » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 23:47:49

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 's')teal

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'k')ill

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'c')heat

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'l')ie





Interesting coincidence everyone... all we need to add is 'smuggle drugs' to that list and the USG has violated all Five Precepts of Buddhism.
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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby smallpoxgirl » Tue 11 Mar 2008, 23:49:59

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', 'I')nteresting coincidence everyone... all we need to add is 'smuggle drugs' to that list and the USG has violated all Five Precepts of Buddhism.
Fortunately they're pretty good at that too.
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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby eastbay » Wed 12 Mar 2008, 00:04:08

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('smallpoxgirl', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', 'I')nteresting coincidence everyone... all we need to add is 'smuggle drugs' to that list and the USG has violated all Five Precepts of Buddhism.
Fortunately they're pretty good at that too.


I agree. None do it better.
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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby Ferretlover » Wed 12 Mar 2008, 00:06:32

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', '[')Interesting coincidence everyone... all we need to add is 'smuggle drugs' to that list and the USG has violated all Five Precepts of Buddhism.


Aren't those border guards in prison for trying to stop that illegal from smuggling drugs, and the CIA gave the illegal a border pass??

edited to fix grammar!
Last edited by Ferretlover on Wed 12 Mar 2008, 08:42:16, edited 1 time in total.
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Re: What Does the Government Do Well?

Unread postby eastbay » Wed 12 Mar 2008, 00:27:44

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Ferretlover', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('eastbay', '[')Interesting coincidence everyone... all we need to add is 'smuggle drugs' to that list and the USG has violated all Five Precepts of Buddhism.


Aren't those border guards in prison for trying to stop that illegal smuggle drugs, and the CIA gave the illegal a border pass??


Like I've said here 100 times... the USG pretends to guard the border. It's all for show. Several million cross illegally each year. Almost all the illegal drugs enter somehow.

It could all be stopped easily, but as long as the USG wants the border open it stays open.
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