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Old 10-15-2009, 07:16 AM   #672 (permalink)
Baraka_Guru
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cimarron29414 View Post
I agree that the metaphor should not be a catch-all solution to all those struggling. The question always comes back to whether it's the federal government's job to fix [insert your favorite social struggle here]. You say yes, I say no. Not only do I say no, I say they couldn't fix it even if they try for another 1000 years. 1000 years from now, I will say, "I told you so".
You see, but the government has a track record of improving things. It fixed or otherwise improved situations surrounding unfair labour practices (including child and slave labour), universal suffrage, gay rights, racism, social discrimination, consumer rights, etc.

I think what we should realize is that, no, we shouldn't rely on government alone to "fix" social problems, but they are a major participant. Social progress never happened through government alone; it always (or usually) started with "the people."

It's not the government's "job" to merely fix things; it's the government's job to serve the people. Most people are more than willing the help themselves if the odds aren't stacked tremendously against them.
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