An All Too Common View
There is widespread and growing cynicism about government. For many, government is some sort of malignant force that takes and takes (our taxes) and gives little of value in return. It is almost always inefficient and frequently corrupt. It over-regulates business and provides too many programs that create dependence and erode individual self-reliance. The answer, for many, is to lower taxes and restrain governments so that they can do less harm.
One rather perverse result of this negative view of government is that we elect politicians who actively dislike government and seek to reduce its role in society. A striking example of this phenomenon has come to our attention because of the lingering tragedy of Flint, Michigan. For a variety of reasons, Flint had run into severe financial difficulty and an emergency manager appointed by the Governor of Michigan decided, as a cost-saving measure, to switch the municipality’s water supply from Lake Huron water treated by Detroit to Flint River water treated at its own treatment plant. The lack of corrosion controls after the switch caused lead to leach from pipes into an unknown number of Flint households and this serious health hazard persisted for months while various officials denied that there was any problem.
While there are many players who deserve a share of the blame for this tragedy, it can be seen as an almost inevitable consequence of a governing philosophy that places austerity ahead of people. When Michigan Governor Rick Snyder took office he introduced hundreds of millions in corporate tax cuts while slashing the budgets for public services, including in the Department of Environmental Quality – the department that is supposed to protect drinking water. He typifies politicians who come to office harbouring an active distrust of government, a belief in the superiority of the private sector. Yet we ought to realize that there are a number of fundamental programs and services essential to civilized living and that these essentials need to be provided by our governments and adequately funded.
From the moment he took office in 2006, former Prime Minister Stephen Harper dedicated himself to reducing, permanently the role and significance of the federal government in the life of Canadians. By reducing the GST/HST, introducing a wide variety of other tax cuts, and relentlessly campaigning against any tax increases, he sought to ensure that the federal government – even after his departure – would lack the fiscal capacity to play a larger role. For Harper, the federal government was a necessary evil to be curtailed as much as possible to ensure maximum freedom for businesses and individuals.
Recapturing Public Trust and Support
Yes, there are instances when government could be more efficient and scrupulous. But there are many more instances where government programs operate very successfully. Unfortunately, governments have often been negligent in following through and measuring program results. Since it is always “bad news” that attracts media attention, we end up with a distorted view of government operations and a lack of awareness of the many beneficial results from the expenditure of our tax dollars.
For too long we have allowed the negative public image of government to grow and fester. The result is to break the link between citizens and the governments that are supposed to represent them and act on their behalf. The corroded pipes that leaked lead into Flint’s water supply, and the delayed and ineffective response to that crisis, also had the effect of corroding the trust that people have in their governments. Indicative of this breakdown is the fact that the unfolding election campaign for the President of the United States has been dominated by two individuals (Donald Trump for the Republicans and Bernie Sanders for the Democrats) whose main attraction is that they are seen as not being part of the Washington establishment.
Prospects look a little more promising in Canada at the moment. In the October 2015 election voters put their faith in a Liberal Party that promised an enhanced role for government, but also a dramatically different – and more open and democratic – style of governing. Whether public trust in government is strengthened or eroded over the next few years will be heavily influenced by how the Liberals govern during their term of office. They have a great opportunity, and a heavy responsibility.