He Who Governs Best, Governs Least

Now, more than ever, the people and the politicians alike push for more government involvement in society, but what are they really asking for? The traditional "big government" comes with a hefty price tag. Here is a list of several ways in which an active, powerful government harms society (in no particular order).

• The Middle Class Loses

In a society with a powerful government, that government can be used as a weapon by politicians and special interest groups. The lower class is catered to by politicians in an attempt to gain votes, while the rich and large businesses have enough clout politically to, in practice, bribe the government in return for favors. In a small-government society, the government would not have enough power to cater to these groups' interests, and it would not be worth their time to pander to the politicians. The middle class, which is prosperous enough to sweep under the government's radar for tax cuts and welfare but not rich enough to hold powerful positions with those in the government, would be able to grow, benefiting the whole of society by focusing on individual rather than group rights in a triumph of a small government.

• Government Power can be Corrupted

History is full of examples of governments that overstepped their bounds and either oppressed the people or caused the downfall of their societies: Rome, France, fascist Germany, communist Russia; the examples are endless. When the balance of power swings from the people to the government, the ease of a dictator getting into power increases.

• Government Intervention Destroys the Economy

It's a fundamental principle of economics: competition is good for both parties involved in a transaction. Capitalism is not based on getting rich off of another person; instead, each person involved in the deal chooses what is best for them, and in return provides something for the other party. But when the government interferes with the economy, competition is stifled, and prices and wages are completely out of touch with supply and demand. The incentive to do well and provide a quality product or service to others is destroyed. A good example of this kind of destruction is in the public school system of the United States. Because the public schools are under no pressure from a market of any kind and continue to function whether they succeed or fail, they do not contribute to a healthy society by providing quality service in return for pay.

• Big Governments are Inefficient Governments

When the nation's government (federal in the case of the United States) increases its power in comparison with state, city, and local government, money gets wasted. The federal government's lack of connection with the communities it helps means that money is inevitably wasted. Also, special interest groups (see first point) are able to wield political power to gain funds for their cause in a way that would be impossible if the government held less power.

• Big Governments Inflate the Money Supply

Governments need money to fund their basic operations and programs. When the size of government swells, so does the amount of money required to carry out these functions. The government can then do two things to raise money: it can raise taxes or it can increase the money supply. High taxation raises the ire of the people and subverts the economy with immediate effect, so to avoid causing public opinion to fall, the government devalues the money. The inflation of the money supply ends up creating a destructive cycle of boom and bust, undermining the fundamentals of the free market.

• Personal Responsibility Decreases

Much as the phrase "nanny state" has become a cliche, the idea of a government existing only to take care of its people becomes a vivid reality when the government grows. Indeed, this is at the core of a big government. For what purpose does a large government even exist if not to either oppress the people (see the second point) or take care of the population's every need, telling them what they can or can't do, regardless of whether individual actions affect anyone else. The government holds no responsibility to protects its citizens from themselves, and when it attempts to do so, the work ethic, moral fiber, and independent decision-making skills of the people vanish.