Government Size Essay, Research Paper

I feel the major social problem of our time is the size, power, and influence of the government. This includes not only local government but also the state and federal government as well, but for this paper I will focus on the federal government. The size of the federal government to me is simply unfathomable. With so many different agencies having so many different responsibilities, I sometimes do not know which one to turn to when I have a problem. As for the power, the government has simply gotten out of control. It has the power to accomplish or not accomplish anything it wants or does not want to do. I also believe the government flexes its power too much in the form of frivolous and stupid laws that are just a way of influencing and oppressing society.

A recent story is the popular one about six-year old Elian Gonzalez from Cuba. Elian was rescued after the raft him, his mother, and his mother s boyfriend was on capsized. He has been staying in the United States since early November thanks to our federal government. It seems as though every day a new decision is reached on what should happen to the child. The Immigration and Naturalization Service wants to send him back to Cuba, but a Florida court wants to set up a hearing to determine his fate. Once again, the size, power, and politics of our government is delaying what should be a fairly simple decision.

Although many efforts have been made at reducing the size, power, and influence of the government, I do not believe much progress has been made. I still see news stories similar to the one mentioned above on a nightly basis. I hear more about what lawmakers are attempting to do next. In fact, I believe this situation has gotten much worse since the late 1980 s.

I believe the people who get involved in the government are simply driven by the power that they possess and are fascinated with the influence that they can wield. This has especially happened in the past few years when so much emphasis has been placed on material wealth and on obtaining power. Once they obtain the wealth and power, they understandably wish to flaunt and exercise it.