With government, less is less

By NewsPress Now

This coming Monday, anyone turned away from a locked government building might want to ponder a famous Jeffersonian maxim.

“The best government is that which governs least.”

Some local government officials, along with state and federal offices, certainly put the second half of that philosophy into practice. (No one is quite sure if Thomas Jefferson actually said it).

Many government offices are closed Monday in observance of Columbus Day, six weeks after Labor Day and about a month before Veterans Day. Those who need information on voting, paying taxes or zoning questions will learn that limited government can mean unhelpful government.

The debate over government holidays can get caught up in identity politics. These days, people can’t even agree on whether Monday should be called Columbus Day or Indigenous Peoples Day.

Instead of debating who deserves what day, it might be time to ask whether we’ve finally maxed out on government holidays. This is especially the case for the county and state, which indulge themselves with both Presidents Day and Lincoln’s Birthday in February. This nifty double-dip brought the total county holidays up to 13 (two more than the federal government) when President Joe Biden recognized Juneteenth as a federal holiday. That’s not counting the add-on the governor magnanimously and predictably adds every year for the day after Thanksgiving. (Hey, all that shopping helps the economy).

The city isn’t far behind with 12 official holidays on its schedule, though municipal offices are open this Monday. Possibly city officials realized that if you add one you’ll have to take one away.

It seems reasonable. At some point, if everything is a holiday, then nothing is.

A mortgage

on the future

Polling data shows that most Americans view the economy in a negative light. But even on pocketbook issues, respondents tend to see things through a partisan lens. Only 10% of Republicans have a favorable view of the economy, compared to 40% for Democrats.

One issue of unanimous concern, however, should be the rising level of government debt. Thomas Hoenig, a former president of the Kansas City Federal Reserve, sounded an alarm about the federal debt during remarks at the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Summit.

The debt now stands at $35 trillion.

Like Al Gore and global warming, Hoenig is among the few willing to discuss an inconvenient truth that presents a long-term threat if left unchecked. More and more money will simply go to servicing the debt instead of paying for infrastructure, health, defense or other essential services.

There’s a good reason the issue has been largely ignored in 2024. Campaigns are a time for promising goodies, not hard choices.

The nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that Vice President Kamala Harris’ economic plan would increase budget deficits by $3.5 trillion over the next decade. Trump’s plan would add $7.5 trillion to deficits, the committee said.

Surprisingly, young voters aren’t demanding change. They are the ones who will pay the heaviest price for today’s irresponsible fiscal policies.