Do we really want small governments?

I keep hearing these expressions from Republican pundits and presidential candidates: Small government, nonintrusive government. I wonder what they have in mind? If they talk about less regulation, then let's not forget that deregulation gave us the bank mess. And after all, small governments gave us Jim Crow and anti-sodomy laws, which were as intrusive as laws could get.

Now some small governments, for instance Indiana and South Carolina, are trying to make it difficult for some voters to actually vote by introducing laws that demand that those who want to vote produce picture IDs. This is allegedly to prevent voter fraud. Except, there has been little if any verifiable voter fraud.

Then there is the Republican front-runner, Texas Gov. Rick Perry. He was a strong critic of the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Lawrence v. Texas, which overthrew Texas's anti-sodomy law. He supported the state legislature's refusal to remove that law.

Is this what small government is about? Making sure that only right people can vote and the government plays the role of your neighborhood's peeping Tom? It is easier for small government to be intrusive.

Don't forget that it was the “big,” i.e., federal, government that in the 1960s began protecting individual rights from intrusive small governments.

Jozef Figa

Cedar Rapids