In your opinion, is there anything the government does WELL?

[Mookow]

See title. I asked this question to a friend of mine whos is a Democrat, and aside from things like collecting revenue... neither of us could come up with anything within a couple minutes (aside from "wasting money").

So, not to spark a political debate (at least not right off the bat)... aside from getting money and then spending it, in your opinion, is there anything the US government does well?

"Well" being defined as effectively and in an efficient manner.

 

[ElFenix]

invade unsuspecting 3rd world countries?

wait, no, they've screwed that one up too

 

[samgau]

Yup... waste a bunch of money.....

 

[Spamela]

our government funded science is the best in the world.

 

[mugs]

No, but I think bureaucracy is to blame for most of the government's inefficiencies... and that bureaucracy is necessary to prevent abuses. I think if there was anything that could be done about that, there's enough intelligent people working for the government that it would have been done by now. Government spending on pork on the other hand, could easily be reduced.

 

[SSibalNom]

they keep the roads and highways in pretty good shape... In some towns there might be pot holes here and there... but try driving in mexico then complain

 

[Sluggo]

They do a semi decent job of identifying and preserving some great national park areas.

And you know the interstate sytem would be a horrible, horrible clusterfvck if the goverment didnt play such a huge role in it.

 

[Saulbadguy]

Originally posted by: SSibalNom
they keep the roads and highways in pretty good shape... In some towns there might be pot holes here and there... but try driving in mexico then complain

thats more of a function of your local state govt.

 

[Dragnov]

Originally posted by: ElFenix
invade unsuspecting 3rd world countries?

wait, no, they've screwed that one up too

Unsuspecting? I think everyone full well expected an attack on Iraq.

Anyways, everyone likes to b1tch and moan, but w/ a less than 50% turnout rate for registered voters who don't know much about politics itself... well the blame can only be placed on the people.

 

[Aharami]

hmph! got me stumped!! i cant think of a single thing... i would say provide a nice and safe place for us to reside in, but we ourselves create the nice environment we live in...govt plays no part in that. infact, the govt is creating more terrorists gunning for US (all those iraqi orphans our weapons created)

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: Gr1mL0cK

Unsuspecting? I think everyone full well expected an attack on Iraq.

who said i was refering to iraq?

 

[BDawg]

How's your mail service (I know they're not 100% govt.)? You heard we have a fairly active space program, right? Have we been invaded recently?

 

[Schadenfreude]

Originally posted by: mugsywwiii
No, but I think bureaucracy is to blame for most of the government's inefficiencies... and that bureaucracy is necessary to prevent abuses. I think if there was anything that could be done about that, there's enough intelligent people working for the government that it would have been done by now. Government spending on pork on the other hand, could easily be reduced.

Yeah - I'd say most of the waste is because of the bureaucracy, and it can't be helped because of its size. I think for what it is, the US is doing a great job, in comparison to a LOT of the other nations . . ..

 

[nick1985]

for all you that say you cant think of anything...think about your schooling, social security, mail, and tons of other government programs. our governemnt pwns compared to others around the world. why is america so succesful if our government is so bad? its hard to please everyone, cut them some slack and appreciate what they do for you. i say, a job well done.

 

[mugs]

Oh - the US Postal Service is pretty good. Try finding someone else who'll deliver a letter from Florida to Alaska for 37 cents. I don't think they do a good job of competing with UPS, etc, as far as packages go though.

 

[ScottyB]

Bush and pals seem to be doing a pretty good job at taking away our rights.

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: ScottyB
Bush and pals seem to be doing a pretty good job at taking away our rights.

vote for dean..."YIIIEEEEEEEHAAAAA!!!!!!"

or

move to saudi arabia.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: ScottyB
Bush and pals seem to be doing a pretty good job at taking away our rights.

name one

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

It is not that the goverment does any one thing well, but rather it does a great many things that would not be done at all.

 

[ScottyB]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: ScottyB
Bush and pals seem to be doing a pretty good job at taking away our rights.

name one

This pretty much sums them up.

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: ScottyB

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: ScottyB
Bush and pals seem to be doing a pretty good job at taking away our rights.

name one

This pretty much sums them up.

i got a timeout. i'd like to know what you, yourself, can't do, that you could do in 2000.

 

[SSibalNom]

Originally posted by: Saulbadguy

Originally posted by: SSibalNom
they keep the roads and highways in pretty good shape... In some towns there might be pot holes here and there... but try driving in mexico then complain

thats more of a function of your local state govt.

interestates...... arent all the highways federally maintained? or at least are maintained with federal money?

 

[nick1985]

Originally posted by: SSibalNom

Originally posted by: Saulbadguy

Originally posted by: SSibalNom
they keep the roads and highways in pretty good shape... In some towns there might be pot holes here and there... but try driving in mexico then complain

thats more of a function of your local state govt.

interestates...... arent all the highways federally maintained? or at least are maintained with federal money?

yes, they are. i work for my county governemnt and we are given a budget for our highway department. our budget money comes the top. he is just an idiot.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: ScottyB

Originally posted by: ElFenix

Originally posted by: ScottyB
Bush and pals seem to be doing a pretty good job at taking away our rights.

name one

This pretty much sums them up.

i got a timeout. i'd like to know what you, yourself, can't do, that you could do in 2000.

It's not what he can't do, but what the government CAN do. Read the Patriot Act.

 

[Mookow]

Originally posted by: nick1985
for all you that say you cant think of anything...think about your schooling, social security, mail, and tons of other government programs. our governemnt pwns compared to others around the world. why is america so succesful if our government is so bad? its hard to please everyone, cut them some slack and appreciate what they do for you. i say, a job well done.

I said well, and defined it as including "efficiently". Social Security... ehhh, there is one BIG Charlie Foxtrot coming to a head soon. Schooling? Ever think about what a good private school does with a lot less money per pupil compared to public schools?

Even if the US government is the best in the world... when you think of the competition it has, that is definitely a left-handed compliment.

<-- going to vote Libertarian this coming election.