“That government is best which governs least.”
That famous aphorism delightfully — and somewhat snarkily — illuminates what animated the Founders to form a democratic republic and break with the oppressive rule of the monarchy.
Practically since the day America was born, there’s been a national debate over government’s role.
Historically, on the right there’s been a push toward smaller government — “starve the beast” economic policy, fewer regulations, states’ rights, lower taxes, a leaner social welfare system.
And on the left, there’s typically been more optimism about what government can accomplish if unleashed — more public spending, income and wealth redistribution, more regulation, expanded social safety nets.
Today, we find ourselves in an odd position, where one side isn’t advocating for bigger government or smaller government — but no government at all. That is, a government that is marked less by its size and entirely by its inability to do anything.
Whether we call it intransigence or obstructionism — and neither term is new to Washington — today’s Republicans seem utterly convinced that among their many expectations as members of Congress, solving problems isn’t one of them.
How else can we explain their inability........