Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Election Day is Nov. 8 and early voting begins Oct. 11 in New Mexico.
Our ballots are full of Republicans, Democrats and even a few Independent candidates.
But we seem to be a little short on small-government proponents.
Oh, sure, those words are coming from some candidates’ mouths and their websites and their promotional advertising – they say they are “conservative,” they say they want to reduce spending, they say they believe in individual “liberty.”
But too many of those same candidates also talk about their plans for new laws, stricter regulations for private business they don’t like, and increasing spending for causes they believe in.
Yes, a lot of so-called “conservatives” support these candidates’ proposals aimed at restricting abortion, limiting immigration, and spending more money on law enforcement, just as they supported those who wanted same-sex marriage outlawed and jail time for marijuana dealers.
All of those initiatives listed in that previous paragraph … examples of big government deciding what’s best for all of us.
Which is what the Democrats have been saying for decades, though their focus has been on gun control, Robin Hood tax systems and a “greener” environment, whether it’s sustainable or not.
Today it seems “conservatives” want big government like “liberals” want big government. They just have different agendas.
Meanwhile, some of us still want to live our lives with fewer government restrictions, with fewer requirements for funding a government we’re not crazy about.
We all want crime reduced, but throwing money government’s direction and expecting that to happen? Remember this same government can’t keep the roads in good repair or keep the trash out of our alleyways.
Local county commissions have been adamantly opposed to ordinances regarding trash, weeds and even fire. But some of those “small-government” champions want to be sure nobody opens cannabis shops or abortion clinics because those are “immoral” or not “family friendly” in their opinion?
And how many from the “cut spending” crowd have also decided it’s a good idea to build a wall along the Mexican border, no matter the cost or effectiveness at preventing illegal immigration.
There was a time when freedom lovers were convinced morality could not be legislated.
The politicians may have decided only government can make the world a better place with more laws funded by more taxpayer money, and that “majority rules” elections will help us get there, with the politicians deciding who gets to vote in those elections.
But some of us still believe you change hearts and minds with education and personal interaction, not with government edicts likely to be reversed after the next election.
It’s wrong for politicians to use tax dollars to fund an abortion clinic that half the nation doesn’t want. It’s just as wrong for government to decide private money cannot fund healthcare facilities that half the nation does support.
Big government on the right is every bit as dangerous as big government on the left. Liberty isn’t a campaign slogan. It’s our only chance of creating a world we all want to live in.
— David Stevens
Publisher
