Let me make a general comment about government intervention and the effects of boom and bust in an advanced technological society. Many of the products we enjoy today come as a result of a long chain of processes, parts, assembly, and delivery. Upset one part of that chain and all hell breaks loose. I think you could justifiably argue that maybe this house of cards has gone too far but if not and we want to keep it going, there needs to be a stabilizing force of some kind. It has become obvious that our business and financial leaders are much more keen on competition than cooperation and on short term gain than long term preparation so that stability isn't going to come from them.
Freedom isn't stable. No doubt about it. If what we want is maximum cooperation, maximum efficiency, maximum performance - we should probably consider a full-blown fascist state with a strong central government running the show. Of course, if 'we' do decide to go there, I'll be considering some other place to be.
There's a broad spectrum between fascism and anarchy. Maybe the political disagreements in this country amount to the difference between yellow and yellow-green.
Well said. The real issue, in my view, is reaffirming broad agreement on the purpose of government, and we don't really have that right now. Some people seem to think of government as the be-all, end-all of human society, and I think that's very dangerous - and does lead to totalitarian government as an obvious solution.
The best government, in my view, will be tightly focused on doing the things that actually require the coercive power we grant to the state. Where that's not required, we're better off solving our own problems.