Bigger Government in The Bahamas is not the answer

by Rick Lowe

More and more every day we see signs of the fallout from the worlds economic troubles.

Locally we read of more layoffs and more and more business people are openly discussing their "drastic measures list" if things continue to worsen.

At the same time, there are calls for the government to do more.

These are tough times for sure, but if we are realistic, how can the government do any more without burdening future generations with more debt and a heavier tax burden?

Government is being called upon for more help, while looking for cash flow, all at a time when it might be nearing borrowing limits.

There is one clear message from all of this. Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the US was right when he said in a speech to Congress in 1974 that: "A government big enough to give you everything you want is a government big enough to take from you everything you have".

This not so humble blogger is convinced that The Bahamas Government must take deliberate steps to reduce its size and the scope of services it supposedly offers if we are to survive this economic downturn without devaluing the Bahamian Dollar, causing more hardship on the "small man" and everyone else.

Otherwise, they will continue to raise taxes and debt levels any way they can, which will only stifle the economy even more.

Let's work together to figure out how we can reduce the government. Not call on it to do more harmful things to us.

Of course I don't want to say The Nassau Institute was right all along about the size of our government, but...the reality is, it is self evident now isn't it?