But our healthy skepticism has turned into dangerous cynicism that makes it difficult for our governments to play an effective role in the new global economy. If we shackle government, starve it for truly needed funds, we may get just what we deserve - government mired in the management methods of the 1950s. Since government is at least 15 to 20 percent of any local economy, the entire economy is then shackled and pulled down. It is a fact that no matter how much business or philanthropies or other civic forces seek to lead, at the end of the day government is needed, almost invariably, as a partner at the table. Any major undertaking runs up against rules, regulations, funding priorities, land use plans or some other domain of government.
Local government is needed as a funding partner in major enterprises.
It is needed to provide quality services, especially in poor and struggling neighborhoods, and to start the tough task of tying social services for families to school programs in a time of serious family breakdown. It is needed to protect the air and water, and to assure environmental equity to low-income neighborhoods often the scene of landfills or toxic dumping. In addition, a community that tries to operate independent of government may easily find itself paralyzed when it tries to work collaboratively. The public will Government, moreover, does remain the only instrument to effect the public's will in a fully democratic way. Only government has the power to assure true equity in a society.