February 17, 2004
What the World Needs Now, Is Good Government
Imagine me at the Miss America pageant (it's easy if you try), and after making it through the swimsuit competition, we come to the question: "What is the biggest problem facing the world today?" I'd have my answer ready: bad government. Poverty, war, environmental destruction, most real suffering can be traced back to poor government. The sad thing is, good government isn't a big mystery. It's hard because it means overthrowing entrenched interests, and it requires practice, but it's well worth it.
The United States became the sole superpower in large part because of our government. Representation and consent of the governed (AKA democracy), the rule of law and not men, private property, contract rights, and free markets, essential liberties (such as freedom of speech and religion) -- these are all known and understood. The government that governs least governs best is a good rule of thumb toward regulation and regimentation, not the core functions of government.
What are rogue nations but those with particularly wretched governments - or government of the tyrant, by the tyrant, and for the tyrant. The countries that are the worst to live in are those with the worst governments. Poor countries are poor because their governments keep them poor through (at best) mismanagement and (at worst) deliberate rule for the ruler's sake. Frankly, no government should be considered legitimate that doesn't have the consent of it's people in free and fair elections. The best way to decrease poverty, to reduce war, to reduce human suffering would be to improve government globally.
Posted by Kevin Murphy at February 17, 2004 01:11 PM | International Politics
