Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Problem with Government

One of the arguments we at the National Citizens Coalition have been making since the last time the Maple Leafs won the Stanley Cup is that big government is part of the problem not part of the solution.

And now, a study from the Fraser Institute confirms this view.

The study, Government Failure in Canada, 2005 Report, uncovers 284 examples of government incompetence, boondoggles and waste that occurred since 1992.

That’s right – 284.

In other words, the Adscam Scandal was not an isolated incident; it was, in fact, more like the norm or as the Fraser report puts it these kinds of scandals occur with “predicable reliability.”

Why?

Because it’s the nature of government, that’s why.

Government has no incentive to be cost-effective or efficient or scandal-free. Indeed all the incentives are for politicians and bureaucrats to spend as much as possible without pausing to think if such spending is actually wise or ethical.

So what’s the answer?

Easy. Make government smaller. Give our bureaucrats and politicians less to do. That would give them less opportunity to waste.

1 comment:

Karen Selick said...

What, only 284?