How much is the right amount of government?

I recently caught a local business running a bait-and-switch. An item was advertised at an attractive price, but the store doesn’t have any. I can get a slightly different item at a much higher price. I’ve sent a letter to the AG.

But, this got me to thinking about the role of government in our lives. This deceptive business practice is both illegal and rare. But what if that were not so? What if our government was smaller? What if we had less regulation of business and this was not illegal? What if there was no consumer affairs division of the Attorney General’s office?

If you are someone who believes we need less regulation of business and smaller government, I want to ask you, “how much less government is the right amount of government to keep businesses honest?” How much less is the right amount of government to keep industrial firms from turning all of our local waterways into Love Canal or from turning all of our towns near mines into Wallace with ground so polluted it has to be dug up and replaced?

India has more honor roll students than there are total students in the US. So, how much less government is the right amount to provide the educational opportunities our students need so they have a chance to compete for top jobs in a global economy?

I think you need to answer if you want smaller government and less business regulation. I’m listening.

DOUG KIMBALL

Sandpoint