By Tom Liotti
The Great Depression caused a change in government policies from Adam Smith’s postulate of laissez-faire or hands off private industry to the establishment of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and other initiatives in order to rescue our faltered economy. Government policies changed to the adoption of the macroeconomic theories of John Maynard Keynes namely, that the economy may be driven by regulation. Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s programs stemmed unemployment and stimulated the economy. The cost of Government took on a larger percentage of the Gross National Product. WWII spurred additional development. The Government was then looked upon as a solution to our economic woes.
The late ’40s and ’50s were placid except for the Korean War. Eisenhower’s warning of “…beware of the military industrial complex…” was poignant especially amidst the craziness of Senator Joe McCarthy and his counsel, Roy Cohn.
In John F. Kennedy’s inauguration speech, he stated: “ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country,” which led to the establishment of the Peace Corps and a period of volunteerism. Ralph Nader was pushing consumerism. The Vietnam War brought young people into the battle fields but also into the public for as objectants to the War and public servants who wanted to make changes in government policies to benefit all people.
Since the late ’60s beginning with the election of President Nixon and culminating with the end of the Vietnam War, many public servants and elected officials have turned away from the altruism of those earlier years. Now with the new corruption charges being raised on a daily basis, the public must wonder if we have lost our way. We have.
Unfortunately, over time with the growth of municipal unions, outlandish campaign contributions and the evil hand of special interests, government is part of our economic problems rather than a solution to them. For example, this past week we learned of our tiny neighboring Village of Old Westbury with 4,000 residents mustering out a Police Chief with a payout upon retirement of $1,061,937.61 and a monthly pension of $14,801.98 while another retiree from the same Department received a payout of $578,686.39. This in a village with almost no crime.
Patronage grows and so do our taxes. Elected officials churn out press releases and each candidate touts himself or herself as the next Messiah. Of course, this makes no sense but we must agree as a society that the cost of government is out of control and the basis for people entering government must be changed from those who take to those who want to give.
