‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help’

“The most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.” This famous line from Ronald Reagan goes a long way to explain why our government is ill prepared and slow to deal with the coronavirus.

The Republican leadership in Congress and the White House believe less government, regulations and intrusions in our daily lives is needed — until a crisis like this one occurs. While the states, cities and schools decide when action is required, the federal government fumbles in response.

This philosophy of government can’t fix the problem, it is the problem, finds credence when you consider the Pentagon paying $10,000 for an airplane toilet seat cover; but fails miserably when hard decisions need to be made for public safety. I remember the outcry when the government tried to mandate seat belts and then airbags. Though statistically it was proven to save lives, many in the government and the car industry were against it, and the public saw this as an intrusion of individual liberty.

One of the lessons of this public health emergency should be that our federal government shouldn’t just take a role, but should take the lead. Many who work within government are proud of what they do and see a benefit to their public service. It’s time we stop belittling our government and, instead, see what we can do to make it better. Our lives depend on it.

Mark Kirk, Mansfield Center