Thanks for those who participated in the Big Government thread with ideas. I expected more participation to make the poll choices more thorough. This is the best I could come up with.

And I know that all of the above would help! Tell us what you think would help the most?

Finally! A pollbybill to which I felt comfortable responding. I chose "More informed electorate, etc."

Glad you approve.

I chose that one too.

I put the size is fine, just improve its performance.

How do we know what the right size is? I would say it's too big because I think I pay too much in taxes. I would definitely think the military is too big and Iraq is a total sinkhole!

We don't. We don't know if government is too big or too small. We do know that it's not working as well as it should and could potentially be worse if it was reduced in size. One things for sure, we shouldn't be cutting programs without good plans in place to fill the voids.

I agree that the military is too expensive. It may be undermanned, but the weapons are over priced and over used in place of tactics and diplomacy.

Would a more efficiently run government at the same size be worth the tax dollars? Hard do say. I do agree that the government is too big for it's level of performance.

Who says size isn't important?

By government I assume that you are talking about the Public Sector as opposed to the Publicly-held (corporate) sector. In a way you could consider the government to be relatively small already and just acting as a clearing house for corporations. Since what they call "privatization" takes our tax dollars and sends them to contractors (they call them "private contractors") it is still our money. I consider these "private contractors" to be part of the government.

We could try putting all the expenses that are off-budget (like the costs of the war) on-budget so we get a realistic assessment of just how big the government is.

Separate from finances:
We could dispense with the Patriot Act. The more totalitarian a government is the bigger it is.

A stronger trade union movement would be an appriate check and balance on the total control of the Public/private contractor complex. That would be a very uphill battle admittedly.

I say "we" rather than "they" for a reason. If by our government is "them" rather than "us" then nothing regarding government size matters and all we are doing is begging for crumbs.

one of these days
java script:emoticon(':embarrased:')

I think I was the first responder to this poll but I failed to comment. I selected
size is ok, improve competence. I don't think people are generally over taxed
but tax resources are misused.The goverment is collecting enough tax to provide
universal quality education, career training and health care, protect the environment and modernize our transportation and communication infrastructure.
What we the people need to do is more fully embrace constitutional democracy
based on Individual Freedom, Equality and Community--as a way of life--so
as to be able to resist all forms of demigods, while we continue to evolve the
arts and sciences through our individual and collective experience.

Good thoughts RLA. I agree that our government would be fine if it were more competent. I also agree with your assessment of what would make it more competent.

What I think fuels the push for smaller government is people feeling like they don't benefit from the government programs. Would you say the people are more often than not correct that they don't benefit from these programs, or is it more that they do not see the benefits that exist?

I see we have at least one vote for "With budget and tax cuts first. Everything will fall into place."

I was hoping whoever picked that one would give some explanation, but if they believe that only time will tell, I guess I can't argue with that.

I would like to know how long they are willing to wait and how bad they are willing to let things get. Do they believe that another depression would do us some good in the long run?

I voted combination/other. We need to have the government run for the good of the country, not groups the politicians think keep them in office. That requires better legislative, executive and voters.

Until we have an informed electorate, I am not sure government will operate effectively or efficiently. And I have concerns about how to achieve an informed electorate,
given the problems in education, over-population, and current hectic lifestyles ... a plethora of problems to overcome.