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June 23, 2006

The Purpose of Government

Joan Vennochi wants the government to reinstate the draft. She's not happy that we're still in Iraq, and she thinks that a draft might 'awaken' Americans to the need to get out as quickly as possible. Since the military has been all-volunteer since 1973, Vennochi feels that Americans can keep the war at arm's length because it doesn't directly effect many of them. So we should share the pain. Her close, "Either this war is worth every citizen's effort, or it's not worth any soldier's life," draws a pretty firm line in the sand.

A draft is a pretty serious issue. In theory, the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens. A draft turns that theory on its head, by giving the government the power to require its citizens to make their lives subordinate to it. I am personally dubious of the death penalty because I am uncomfortable with giving the government the power to kill anyone, even those convicted of the worst crimes. To reinstitute the draft would be to go well beyond that by effectively making everyone liable to die for the government. That seems to strike against the very concept of the United States, by making the government superior to the citizens rather than the reverse.

Vennochi's problem is not an uncommon one, although her remedy is perhaps a bit more extreme than most. Most people have some problems with the government they'd like to see fixed. The government spends too much of our money, so someone suggests that all our elected representatives be constrained by term limits to reduce the incentives they have to use powers like earmarking to cling to power. The government is corrupted by campaign contributions, so someone creates an interest group to create the impression of a groundswell of support for campaign finance reform. Congress uses framing constantly to get their way: a bill whose primary purpose might be a raise for the soldiers overseas gets loaded with riders and amendments that tie myriad other spending to it, on the assumption nobody will vote against a bill that's 'for the troops.' (For the children is, of course, a perpetual favorite in this respect.) The bottom line doesn't change. Someone doesn't like the results our current government provides, so they want to change the rules in order to get the results they favor.

What is lost in this kind of posturing is the larger question: what kind of government do we want? I would hardly suggest that our system of government is perfect; if I'm ever made emperor for a day, I have a substantial list of changes I'd make to the current system. But it does pass the first test of any government: it works. We in the United States are spoiled, because our system has worked pretty well for over 200 years. That's not nearly as common as we tend to assume. Very few nations on the planet can claim to have had a government that has lasted even fifty years without major changes. From a pragmatic standpoint our system is remarkably robust, and that is no small feature. Our government also gives the people a voice, albeit of varying quality. Still, if you're willing to work hard for a cause, you can probably get a hearing, even if you can't get the result you want.

Vennochi wants to change things simply because she's unhappy with a particular result. She feels that the ends justify the means, that the war in Iraq needs to be stopped, and if people need to be subordinated to the government, that's a price she's willing to pay. (An easy price for her to pay, since she certainly won't be drafted. I don't know if she has children who would be subject to the draft or not.) This is the seductive power of government in action. A little coercion, and you get the result you wanted, as long as you're willing to pretend there wasn't a cost. In fairness to Vennochi, I suspect she hasn't actually thought these issues through at all; I think she just wants to end the war and this route seems to promise the results she seeks. But actions have consequences, and Vennochi's suggestion comes at a rather high price.

American government is supposed to be of the people, by the people, for the people. Let's not turn that on its head and make the people for the government.