Letter: Government serves useful purposes
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
In response to John Dingethal's Aug. 20 letter, "Parker column insightful," I wonder if Dingethal knows what governments do best. Governments provide their citizens with what they need to be successful. Highways, bridges, schools, police, fire departments, parks, transportation, water and sewer systems, etc. They care for the poor, elderly, sick and disabled. They fight wars and help when disasters strike. They enforce needed laws to maintain order and safety. Those are just a few of the things the government does well.
Dingethal believes "'Social justice' should be pursued by individual members of society and the organizations that they directly support." Nice thought, but there are nowhere near enough people who actually volunteer. Who can or will support a stranger who is homeless, mentally ill or in a nursing home? Who will intervene in a domestic abuse situation? Track down gang members?
"Social Justice and personal responsibility" are nice sound bites but unrealistic. Life happens. Children are orphaned. Planes crash into buildings. Freak accidents leave people permanently disabled. Natural disasters wipe out entire towns. Cancer strikes.
Your neighbor has his own problems. Fortunately, the government IS here to help.
Sandra Edmonson
VANCOUVER
