The Role of Government in the 21C

We conclude our Magical Mystery Tour by considering the mechanisms We the People (!) will use to address the 21C challenges we face. Of course, there is no bigger mechanism than The Government. But how and when and why will Government help discover solutions to our problems? And what about the 21C challenges Government itself is facing?

That's what this week will be about. We're going to talk a little bit about what governments in general are supposed to do (this will surely be a matter of some debate) and what our government in particular has promised it will do. Then we're going to look at some specific promises -- namely Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid -- that are looking a little shaky here of late.

Lots to do in a week. Chances are it'll leak over into next week. Next week we'll also touch on another governmental "promise," public education. (Talk about 21C challenges!)

For now, here's a link to The National Archives "Charters of Freedom" site, which has full text versions of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution as well as other pertinent links related to those seminal documents. I figure if we're trying to decide what our government should do, we oughtta begin at the beginning.