Why Democrats and Republicans invest too much confidence in government

George Will has a brilliant article in the Washington Post, today, that illustrates exactly the "irrational exhuberance," as George calls it and as Alan Greenspan originally referred to the source of the hazy vision that led to the technology bubble and crash of the late 90's, that has characterized Democratic and Republican governments alike as each invest too much confidence in the power of government to solve important problems.

Innoculated for Exhuberance

And George is exactly right on both counts.

Hillary Clinton's and Washington Democrats' foolish conviction that the Federal government could and should effectively coerce every level of government and every citizen in a cumbersome, overbearing government health care plan was perhaps the most serious investment of far too much confidence in government during the last Democratic Administration.

And George Bush's belief that the U.S. government could remake the Middle East with its military might is perhaps the most serious investment of far too much confidence in government during either the last Democratic or Republican Administration.

They are two different mistakes with two very different sets of problems. Challenging Saddam Hussein likely did need outside and overwhelming military force to do the job. But believing that the U.S. could do it alone, especially without the support and leadership of the Iraqi people, as well as the support of our democratic and critical non-democratic allies in the region was American hubris at its worst. Republican backing of this foreign policy failure as well as Democratic incompetence to develop an alternative policy other than some different version of American hegemony in the form of pressuring the Iraqis to clean up the mess we made (does our arrogance have no bounds?) will likely undermine American power in serious ways if America does not humble herself in world affairs.

The foolish national health care plan offered by Hillary Clinton luckily was less ambitious and less successful. And it too, as George well argues, was a terrible investment of confidence by an Administration in the power of government to solve a problem that it cannot and should not attempt to solve.

As George argues, "the most important thing a government can know...(is) what it is that it doesn't know." And that is the source of the hubris of both Democrats and Republicans in Washington -- investing too much confidence in Federal solutions -- that need our vigilant criticism and correction.

It is the perpetual problem of solutions imposed by Washington. They assume that they know more than they really know to solve those problems. In America, it is the most important reason to have divided government, separation of powers, and checks and balances: to check the hubris of those seeking national power. Typically Washington legislators know far less than they would need to solve more serious problems in the country. Their power should be limited and exercised in the most limited of ways if it is to be either effective or wise. To the extent that Washington overestimates its understanding of issues (which is more often than not), it generally makes problems worse, is my study and experience.

And to the extent that all power is exercised humbly (which is less often than not) the more effectively and wisely it can be used for any purpose.

Check out George's article for a very insightful look into the hubris of all parties whenever they exercise power.

Democrats won an election for one brief political era. Lord Acton and George Will have wisdom for the ages.

Love,
Ben