Government Control Versus Independence

The debate is whether America is going to have equality and independence of the people or complete government control. Complete government control, sounds familiar, many people read George Orwell’s “1984” while in school. The novel describes the dystopia where an oligarchic government has overwhelming control and surveillance and relentless mind control over the people. The philosophy described allowed “the big brother” or “Party” to control and manipulate humanity. The people were not allowed to have free thought or any expression of individuality. Our own government is not far from that imaginary world. Americans now live in a world where we no longer have the freedom to freely decide what we eat, how our children will be educated, choose healthcare insurance, and even decide what light bulb will illuminate our homes. The government has extended their power through taxation, regulations, and unremitting appeals. At what limit is government control over our daily lives too much. The rights of the people need to prevail and people should be allowed to ascertain their own individuality and independence. The Bill of Rights was ratified in December 1791 as the collective name for the first ten amendments of the Constitution (Bill). The Bill of Rights was written to clarify the limitations on the authority of the federal government, to include protecting the rights of liberty including freedom of speech, freedom of religion, free assembly, and freedom to keep and bear arms (Bill). The Bill of Rights protects the rights and freedoms of the people and clarifies that all powers lie neither with the federal government or the people of the United States. The Bill of Rights has become a fundamental symbol is recognition of the freedoms and liberties of our country. The authors of both the Bill of Rights and the Constitution made it possible for the people to be entitled to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. In the article, “In Pursuit: Of Happiness and Good Government”, the author Charles Murray writes that over time the American people have lost some control of their lives as the federal government inserts itself continuously into matters that are understood as not being government business at all (Murray 1). As the public continues to feel more powerless, distrust and discontent with the government increases. The federal government continues to get bigger and bigger exerting more control, while the concept of the individual disappears. Self-sufficiency and individual efforts are the keynote of American citizens. These ideas suggest freedom to be able to attempt to accomplish our own goals. However, I am not suggesting to disassemble and relinquish the government, because a complete lack of jurisdiction by the government would lead to utter chaos and some control is needed to keep the country functioning. New food taxes were instated in May 2010 that imposed taxes on bottled water, beer, candy, and chewing gum (Camden). These taxes are classified as “temporary” to become an extra funding source for the federal government to help balance the nation’s general fund (Camden). Another tax on soda was also imposed later that year. These items lost their food status and the food tax exemption that comes along with that status. However, by imposing these taxes on these specific items it controls what people are buying and deters them from purchasing them. The government is attempting to control less consumption of unhealthy food by imposing these taxes. They are no longer relying on education of a healthy diet and the consumer’s discretion to choose healthy food to purchase. They theorize that inflicting taxes on classified unhealthy foods that the public will be less likely to purchase them because of the increased cost. This is just another way that the government found to increase taxes. Also, now the government is in position to pass more “sin” taxes with talk of imposing such on high-fat foods and alcohol, and again more taxes on tobacco products. Food taxes are not the only new thing attempted to improve health among Americans, there will be to come new controls on the marketing of deemed unhealthy foods to include commercials during children programming, media characters promoting only healthy products, and changing labeling on products. The new healthcare reform has proven to not be for the improvement of individual health care. ObamaCare is merely another failed attempt to provide a universal healthcare system that could potentially benefit millions of people, but instead is a covert attempt for the government to control another aspect of our everyday lives. There is not a direct statement laid down by our Founding Fathers in the Constitution about right to health care, but health care should fall under the rights of life and pursuit of happiness. Health care may be a necessity for all American citizens, however the field of medicine runs like a business that is dominated by people who want to earn a profit. The government is looking to make a profit by providing a government-controlled healthcare system. The control that has been placed by the government by the passing of this bill is enormous. ObamaCare allows the government to control diets and requires “obese citizens “to undergo diet counseling” with the understanding that “those who fail to lose sufficient weight could face further reeducation”” (Hawkins). This model of health care will give control of all medical decisions to bureaucrats with no medical experience. The United States healthcare system is now so distorted an entire reform of the industry is needed. Many Americans have become enraged by various aspects of government encroachment some upset over food taxes and others over healthcare, but the latest catalyst is the bill to make the familiar incandescent light bulb obsolete (Wyatt). With the stricter efficiency standards and the various waves of energy concerns by 2012 the old incandescent bulbs will be very difficult to find. The new law does not particularly outlaw incandescent bulbs nor make a person purchase the compact fluorescent lights, but it does set standards for the amount of light emitted per watt of power used (Wyatt). Many people have become outraged with the passing of this new bill causing many to protest to get the law repealed or to stockpile a stash of these bulbs. I am guilty myself as I have about a hundred of these old, well-known light bulbs packed away at camp. Joe Barton, a Texas representative, sponsored a bill to reverse the new guidelines, saying that “from health insurance you’re allowed to have, to the car you can drive, to the light bulbs you can buy, Washington is making too many decisions that are better left to you and your family” (Wyatt). These new compact light bulbs that are recommended, however, do impose a health hazard as they contain mercury and there are specific instructions on what to do if you break them. Not that I entirely oppose these lights, because they do reduce the amount of electricity that I pay for monthly and they do last longer, but with every benefit there are downfalls. In the government’s effort to support energy conservation maybe their efforts should be steered more toward affordable alternative energy. Alternative energy has proven to effectively reduce or eliminate energy costs and long lasting, but at a significant cost. We need to find ways to use or reuse the resources that are already available to us, and come up with new efficient sources of energy. Enforcing a certain type of light bulb, although puts a bandage on the issue, does not solve the issue. Restrictions on what can be taught to children in schools have been enforced for centuries. It was only from the early 1600s to the mid-1800s when American schooling was independent from government involvement (Fritz). Children are not allowed to be taught information or allowed to be given answers pertaining to human origins, destiny, and the purpose of life, limiting teaching to only material subjects, such as math, science, and writing (Fritz). By putting constraints and limitations on education a child is unable to fully receive a complete, worldly education. Schools is now merely to become just “educated” so one can attend college and get a successful job that pays substantially. Real education goes beyond that teaching reason and understanding, but schools are not allowed to teach such philosophies as to potentially be classified as either religious or atheist. While government regulations and policies sometimes tend to threaten our freedoms, it also the primary supporter of expanding and defending our independence and rights. The government is not all bad, however, without the government there would be complete and utter chaos. The government does promote economic security and justice, while attempting to offer care for the elderly, establishing and enforcing justice, provide public education, and somewhat protect for the environment. Taxes are not all bad as they are the life and support of the government, and without taxes there would be nothing to support all the government programs. And a vast majority of government programs do little to impose on individual citizens. All American citizens pay taxes as what can be considered a due to live in a civilized society and enjoy the benefits of being Americans. Even though it may not seem at times we are all given as populace opportunity and an available large infrastructure that supports us. The reason taxes are viewed so negatively is that most do not associate and connect paying taxes with supporting beneficial programs. This opinion supports what is seen in many polls where people support tax cuts and at the same time support increasing government spending on various programs. Americans, even those who voted for Obama, are now discovering it is not all what they had hoped for. Obama and his administration have interjected themselves further into American lives than any previous administration had dared, and into areas that our founding fathers had no intention on regulating. However, as many people now or do not know the control felt by many is not just the doing of the government, but also by corporations. The influence that large corporations have is the downfall of America. Corporations do not care for the welfare and the people, only their bottom line. Corporations are only for the corporations. And the corporations don’t exactly hide this. Many people, filled with ignorance, do not see corporate control as a bad thing as they protest against and bash government regulation consistently. What it ultimately comes down to is that the government should continue to do it founding duty, but should try to keep out of the every day lives of its citizens and make decisions that the people are capable of making. People should have the independence to make their own choices concerning their welfare and lifestyle and be responsible for those decisions; that independence and freedom is what separates us as American citizens from most other countries.

Works Cited
Bill of Rights. The Charters of Freedom: “A New World Is At Hand”. http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/bill_of_rights_transcript.html
Camden, Jim. “New Food Taxes Start Tuesday.” The Spokesman-Review. May 30, 2010. http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/may/30/new-food-taxes-start-tuesday/
Fitz, Marshall. “How Government Control- Even Local- Has Ruined Public Education and What You Can Do About It.” Alliance for the Separation of School and State. October 15, 2001. http://www.honested.com/essays/fritz/wash_u.php
Hawkins, AWR. “Health Care Reform Is About Control, Not Health.” Pajamas Media. August 17, 2009. http://pajamasmedia.com/blog/health-care-reform-is-about-control-not-health/
Murray, Charles. “In Pursuit: Of Happiness and Good Government.” Chapter 31. First Principles US. 1988.
Wyatt, Edward. “Give Up Familiar Light Bulb? Not Without Fight, Some Say.” The New York Times. March 11, 2011. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/12/business/ energy-environment/12bulb.html