There are many reasons that government is the problem and not the solution. Because of a culture of condescension, an attitude of unaccountability, and no touch with reality, government typically bungles whatever it becomes involved with. Here are a number of reasons why government can’t get anything right.

Government looks at our money (taxes) as an unlimited source of funds. They feel as if all problems can be fixed by throwing ever increasing amounts of our money at them. There is a complete lack of any checks and balances to determine the effectiveness of government programs.

Government has no incentive to be efficient or effective. Unlike private enterprise, government has no motivation to be productive. Government has a captive market (us) who can not take its business elsewhere.

Government does not feel it is accountable to the people it serves. This is our fault. For the most part we keep electing the same people to office that caused the problems. Whether they are elected, appointed, or hired, government employees rarely, if ever, get fired for incompetence.

Government doesn’t take responsibility, they invariably pass the blame. Since they don’t admit to or recognize what the problem is, it will never be fixed.

Politics has become a profession rather than a community service. Our founding fathers never intended for this. Public servants were supposed to take a turn representing their constituents and then return to private life.

Compounding the problem is the fact that many politicians have never had a real job or have no experience running a business. Thus, they lose touch with reality as well as the challenges of real life.

Government has proven time and time again that it can’t manage finances. Whenever it spends money, there is mismanagement, cost overruns, and corruption.

Government action impedes free markets and stifles innovation.

If we are to get our country back on track we have to participate in how it’s run by voting out people who don’t act in our best interest. Vigilance is the price of freedom.

In order to survive tough economic times, private businesses downsize. They layoff employees, freeze salaries, reduce budgets, reduces prices, and look to economize in every possible area. Why doesn’t our government do the same?

Although it defies common sense, here is the action government takes in hard times:

• Government raises taxes
• Government spends more money
• Government votes itself raises
• Government creates new bureaucracies
• Government grows in size

Is it any wonder that government "help" typically makes situations worse?

You are responsible for your well being. It’s nice if others care about you, but you are not someone else’s responsibility. The direction and quality of your life is up to you.

Self reliance means taking action to create the life you want. Look in the mirror and meet the one and only person answerable for your well being. You are responsible for the position you are in.

When you abdicate control over your life to someone else, you effectively limit your choices and lose a significant degree of freedom. Throughout history, people who look to their governments to take care of them are sorely disappointed.

When you give government the power over various aspects of your life, you also give them the power to make decisions about what is best for you. The people in societies where the government has the power to ensure their well being are rarely happy. It’s from these types of countries that people flee. Illegal immigration is one problem socialist and communist nations don’t have.

If you’re not happy with your circumstances, you are the only one who can change them. No one else is at fault and no one else is accountable. To place blame on anything external will only lock you into your current situation with no hope of escape.

You have a choice. You can make excuses justifying your current position or you can take charge of your life. There is no easy route. Anything worthwhile takes effort. Life is a challenge, but that’s what makes it interesting.

Our public servants, whether elected or appointed, have an obligation to live up to the highest standards. They need to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Unquestionable ethics must be paramount.

Unfortunately, too many people who hold a position of public trust take advantage of their situation to enrich themselves, their friends, and their supporters. When this happens, they are incapable of acting in the best interest of their constituents.

When unethical behavior is tolerated, a culture of corruption ensues. The citizens of this country must have a zero tolerance policy regarding any type of dishonesty in government.

Only people with integrity can be trusted and relied on. They will not try to take advantage of or defraud someone. Their word is their bond and their handshake is better than a contract. Integrity is an invaluable trait that enables one to stand out from the crowd.

Conversely, people with a lack of integrity risk succumbing to temptation with no frame of reference to guide them. They are susceptible to becoming embroiled in schemes that inevitably lead to deleterious results.

"Everyone has their price," is a too frequently heard adage. People with integrity don't have a price. They can not be bought off. Those who will compromise their principles for the right price don't have any principles to compromise.

People lacking integrity accept bribes, steal, cheat, lie, and take advantage of others. They will sell themselves to the highest bidder. They have little or no respect for themselves or others.

Throughout history, countries that have fallen into the depths of corruption have not survived. When government is allowed to become self-serving, its people are not served.

Insist on integrity. You have a right and an obligation to do so.

Wouldn’t it be great you owned a business where:

- Your customers must buy from you
- You can charge any price you want
- You have no competition
- You are not required to provide good customer service
- You don’t have to keep any promises
- If you are irresponsible and spend too much money all you have to do is raise your prices.

This is exactly how your government operates, and you own the government. Unfortunately, our public servants, who are hired (elected) to work for us, think that we work for them.

You, however, must live in the real world. In order for you to keep your job you must keep your employer or your customers happy. Fail to do this, and you will be either unemployed or out of business in short order.

When the economy is tough you have to cut back on spending, work harder to boost your income, or both. When necessary, you do with less. You don’t have the option of making other people give you more money.

Our government must be held to the same standards that apply to us. Our public servants waste no time in calling for us to sacrifice to correct the problems caused by their incompetence. This is completely backward from what it should be. We shouldn’t be punished for the government’s failures.

When government runs out of money it is only because it spends too much. The solution is to reduce spending and reduce the size of government. Any other action is irresponsible.

- Bryan Golden author of Dare to Live Without Limits

Every day, renew your gratitude for your good fortune to be living in the greatest country in the world. As many have observed, one indicator of what makes a country great is the number of people who want to get in versus how many want to leave. By just this measure alone, America is number one.

Many people take all our country has to offer for granted. In America, we have more rights, freedom, and opportunity than anyplace else. Some focus on finding fault with America rather than treasuring all that is good here. Our country may not be perfect, but it is by far, the best place to live. Even the most vociferous, vocal, and vehement critics choose to stay here rather than leave.

We become spoiled by all of the freedoms we have. However, freedom isn't free. You have to take care of your country. The well being of America is your responsibility. You must be a participant in our great democracy. You can't abdicate this responsibility to others. Apathy empowers those with self-serving goals to decide your fate.

If you feel something is wrong, don't just complain and criticize. Find a better way. Work for solutions. America was built by people who wanted an improved quality of life, not by whiners. If you don't take an interest and work to make things better, who will? Our government was never intended to take care of you. Rather you must take care of your government.

You have more freedom and rights than in any other nation. Should you have any doubts, visit any other country. When you return home, you will have a renewed appreciation for America. Should you feel there is someplace better, you even have the freedom to move there.

It's your obligation to vote, not just a right. Throughout our history, hundreds of thousands have given their lives to ensure your ability to live free. Voting is a precious gift, don't squander it.

America was founded on the principle that anything is possible. There are no problems we can't solve. We exist today because in 1776, a band of farmers didn't believe in the word impossible. They risked everything, including their lives, to form a country with freedoms never before known in history.

In America, the only guarantee is opportunity. You have the opportunity to succeed. You can accomplish anything you set your mind to. However, you are not entitled to success nor are you entitled to what someone else has. Accomplishments take effort. There are no shortcuts. If you are willing to do what it takes, you can bring your dreams to reality.

Because you have so many freedoms, you need to take personal responsibility for your well being. There are countries where the government supposedly takes care of all the needs of the people. But these are the same places where people are trying to get out, rather than in.

Only because so many have contributed so much, in so many ways, have we been able to become so strong. Our strength is an asset, not something to condemn. That's why America is the first on the scene with the most aid when disaster strikes another country.