Government is now too big, too powerful

Michael K. Casler, Las Vegas

Sunday, April 5, 2009 | 2:02 a.m.

Americans are outraged everyday it seems. Doctors charging Medicare for patient examinations they did not perform; AIG executives getting bonuses paid with taxpayer dollars; senators getting sweetheart mortgage deals from Countrywide; government employees getting raises while private sector employees get laid off, etc.

It is time that every American decides whether he wants to take responsibility for himself or he wants the government to baby-sit him. These outrages and others are possible because Americans have allowed a very powerful and far reaching “government” to develop.

This powerful and far-reaching government is besieged on all sides by powerful interests that want an advantage. They “buy” advantage by making available to senators and representatives resources that help them get reelected.

You can now count me firmly in the column that says “I will take responsibility for myself and I will live with a much smaller and less powerful government.” Whatever little I may gain from this powerful and far-reaching government is far outweighed by the outrageous rewards.

When I get a cut in my payroll tax deductions that grants me $11 more per week in take-home pay from this glorious government, and in exchange for that I get to continue to see a parade of million- and billion-dollar outrages as our glorious government trades advantage for powerful interests for money and votes to get reelected, I conclude that I am being ripped off.

I’ll take my chances and take responsibility for myself and reject being baby-sat by our government. What country is it that I live in? I thought it was America, but maybe I am mistaken.