Should the government help?

“The nine most terrifying words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’”

Ronald Reagan’s famous quip captures a long-standing belief. Americans, many of us anyway, really do not believe the government can or should help people. We definitely don’t like the idea of helping foreigners, but we also don’t approve of helping ourselves. We think it’s shameful to need help, and providing help actually weakens and damages the recipient. Most other wealthy countries don’t have this problem. Their governments provide health care, public transportation, bargaining rights for workers – all kinds of nice things.

A straight line connects Reagan to the current impoundment of funds for foreign aid, schools, charities, cancer research, meals on wheels, and other public goods and services. This mindset predates Reagan of course. This is, in fact, who we are.

But we are more than that. Americans do believe in the power of helping, and we show it in our everyday lives. We are all surrounded by helpers, and we help each other every day. So why don’t we believe that the government can and should help too?

I think we will see a shift in the national mindset. We will begin to see newfound appreciation for the helpers in the U.S. government.