by Chuck Harding

Created on: April 04, 2009

Limited government . . .an interesting concept. It's probably the fundamental difference between the political parties. What's too much and what's not enough governing? Regulate or don't regulate. In 1776 our forefathers thought they had the answer; grant State Sovereignty. It was an issue of paramount importance with the men forming the new federal union. Limited big government was on every ones mind and none wanted to lose their voice. A few kings of England and some monarchs of Europe had left a sour taste in many people's mouths, concerning a central government. Thus it began . . . "We the people . . . The government would be limited.

Limits, what are they? Picture them as fences, defining an area and setting boundaries. In government they are called regulations and laws. From the beginning we have had them, the good ole' boys of 1776 wrote them up; the Bill of Rights and the Constitution. What the government could and couldn't do. They drafted them based upon the situations and the circumstances, which existed at the time. A new nation, a fledgling spreading its wings and eager to grow . . . and that we did. But as we did things changed, from rural to industrial to a technology oriented nation. Our population grew, became more diverse as more and more immigrants called America their new home. New beliefs, religions, and life styles began to surface. We were no longer a simplistic nation, we had become complex, and the 1776 boundaries were no longer adequate to meet our needs.

Were the changes needed, did the boundaries need redrawn? For us to continue as a blessed and thriving nation the answer was yes. Issues of moral and ethical importance sprung out of the soul of our great country. Slavery, woman's suffrage, the right to organize, voting rights, and civil rights were but a few. We were growing. The freedom of mobility placed restrictions on State Sovereignty. Without the oversight of the federal government, we would be a lesser people today. The limits had expanded. Those limits, those regulations, made us the shining beacon of hope throughout the world.

Should our government, federal, state, and local be limited? My guess is most Americans would say yes. The spirit of "76" still lies deep within us as a people. To what extent seems to be the main issue. Today's complex world will require regulation, not to hinder us or strip us of our rights but to protect us against issues we can't or don't know how to resolve as individuals. The current banking and

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