The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1942-04-23
Exoctiy What Is Government?

The American Government consists of a grand total Of $50
people elected by popular vote (435 representatives, 90 sena-
tors, l president and one vce-presdent). Into the hands of
this small number of men, the American people place the
power, among other things, to take them, to regulate them
and keep them at peace or at war.
The fault of all government is that it ever seeks to increase
Its powers. Selling on emergencies as pretexts sometimes
justifiable, sometimes mott, it adds bureau after bureau, and
puts more and more people on the public payroll. The most
insldious thing about this procedure is that when the emer-
gency real or imaginary has passed and there is definitely
no need to continue these bureaus, governments do not close
them up. All history shows that once having seized any new
powers. governments cling tenaciously to them.
1t simply is a manifestation of human nature asserting it.
SCH. In the first place, politicians thrive on power, and in the
second. those who have been added to the public payroll pro.
test vehemently If any attempt or threat of an attempt is made
to take them off. This creates a vicious circle in which the
politicians are afraid to lose votes by releasing government
employees, and those employees demanding they be retained
as millstones around the necks of the taxpayers.
The money governments spend comes not only from the in
come-tax-payers but from all of the people. No one escapes
the heavy hand of the government collector. He is lurking be-
hind every shop counter. This gives the politicians power and
with it they are able to perpetuate themselves in office. The
time was when here in America, power was obtained by in
dividuals and groups through the organization Of money. That
is not true today. Money now is just as much out of fashion
as the hustle, and power comes through political position.
Americans mistrusted the money power vested in tens OF
thousands of individuals. Today far greater power is delegat-
ed to but 533 individuals. Americans must learn to dstrust
this craving for political power for they have greater reason
to be alarmed about it than of erstwhile craving Tor money
power.
This appetite for power on the part of government is pro
gressive-becomes more and more voracious. The more 1t
gets, the more it wants. Those in power. already having taken
over many things, demand that more enterprises be put INTO
their hands to run. Each additional thing mulched from pre
vate enterprise and taken over by government, gives govern
ment just so much added power. This in itself is bad enough
but it also is expensive-it heaps additional burdens on every
American not on the government payroll, for 1t Is those OUTSIDE
of government who must give of their earnings to maintain
Those inside.
That government is best which rules the least, keeps the
number of employees on its payroll at q minimum, and pares
its expenses to the bone. It naturally follows that such a gov
eminent, except in times of war, does not have to levy back
breaking taxes. Up to a few years ago, that was the kind of a
government we had here in America for $50 years. We don't
have such a government now. George Peck.