Those of us who actually believe in the principle of limited government need to reclaim it from those who have redefined it to mean 'small government'...especially those who seem to want a small government that doesn't stay within its proper limits.
Limited government is a legitimate principle. It refers to a government that respects human rights and the rule of law...a system in which nobody is above the law. A limited government protects and enhances the freedom of citizens in practical ways. It has limited abilities to jail and coerce people, with short maximum sentences, actual speedy trails, courts where everyone is represented fairly (regardless of factors like income), and a judiciary that is merciful and accountable. Where government is limited, people are free and happy.
But here is the rub: in these ways, places like Denmark and Sweden have very limited government. When you consider their criminal justice systems, in particular, their governments seem far more limited than ours in the U.S. Still, about half of their national income is devoted to government functions, including healthcare, education and social services. On the other hand, Syria's government only cost 10% of GDP in 2011, but they maintained an oppressive police state. Is that what anyone means by limited government? Of course not. Police states can be quite affordable, in financial terms. Good government can be limited, expensive and worth the cost. When people talk about the principle of limited government, we are generally talking about government that respects the rights and freedoms of citizens. We are not talking about the % of GDP that is spent on governance functions. A limited government can easily, and without contradiction, also be large. And a government that does not respect its appropriate limits can be small.
Of course, having a well-run, limited, large government can have disastrous unintended consequences. You might end up with the happiest people on earth, which makes you a target for heinous exploitation like this:
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