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The tragedy in Tucson has become the latest example of the government’s inability to regulate choices that affect the lives of others. Lenient gun laws in both Arizona and Virginia have allowed deranged young adults to end the lives and futures of promising young individuals.
In a YouTube video submitted in response to Adam Bellow’s book, “New Threats to Freedom,” Max Borders blames the regulations imposed by the government for discouraging him and his wife from selling barbecue sauce at their local farmers market. He argued that the government is trying to protect big business, because political leaders have their own personal agenda.
When Barbara Kingsolver, author of “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle,” came to Virginia Tech, she pointed out that because large farms such as those in California are able to ship produce to Virginia at such a low cost, small farm owners cannot compete. They are, in turn, forced to close down their livelihood and their investment. One of the government’s key roles is to act as a regulator by preventing inequality and promoting equal competition.
Instead, the government has taken sides, with the public and private sectors using special interests to promote personal gain. Just as in life, we need balance in America’s economic system so that all businesses have the opportunity to succeed. Regulation should be a tool that both protects consumers and keeps businesses — large and small — in check.
Large companies have the power to create jobs, and small businesses are able to keep cash flow within the local community. Regulation is necessary in order for America to achieve balanced growth. If politicians take sides, nobody will win, and our country cannot prosper.
At the Tucson memorial several days after the shooting, we weren’t Republicans or Democrats, liberals or conservatives. We were Americans, who were united under one cause. Now we’ve gone back to our regular roles, as our nation stays divided on the most pressing issues it faces.
Who’s going to regulate the government? The Founding Fathers thought they put in place a flexible system that was self-regulating, but instead the United States government has grown out of control. I believe we need to add more permanent checks and balances to our current laws, so the government can self-regulate and our country’s leaders can succeed without comprising their integrity.
Karl Hummel
Freshman
Mechanical Engineering
A version of this article appeared in the Feb 2 issue of the Collegiate Times.
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"One of the government’s key roles is to act as a regulator by preventing inequality and promoting equal competition."
Not according the the Constitution. You want rules, but the rulebook (Constitution) does not allow the federal government to regulate food or weapons.
Who is supposed to keep the out-of-control federal government in check? The states. Read the Kentucky-Virginia Resolutions of 1798. Madison and Jefferson authored them and stated that when the feds pass unconstitutional laws, the states can ignore (IE nullification) them. That is a TRUE separation of powers. Also read Tom Wood's new book on nullification.
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You might want to do some research before you spout off about lenient gun laws being a problem. There is no way to stop people with clean records from purchasing guns legally, no is no reason to suspect them of anything. The tragedies here and at Tuscon were a result of failures in the way we diagnose, treat and isolate people with dangerous mental issues in this country. Gun laws have nothing to do with it. As someone who actually was here on April 16th I do not approve of the way you casually use the tragedy to make a flawed justification for your leftist outcry.
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The 5th Amendment makes it difficult for the state to "diagnose, treat and isolate people" forcibly if they refuse and have committed no crimes. Who hasn't encountered someone acting weird on the streets and walked by.
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There are important exceptions to that rule, if the person is no longer of sound mind than they can not refuse treatment. Then it is up to the doctor, family, or medical proxy to determine if the treatment continues. If the person is a danger to themselves or others than they can also be held and isolated until their condition improves.
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My wife and I would love to sell baked goods at the Blacksburg farmers market. Unfortunately we have indoor pets, and our small apartment kitchen wasn't designed to meet the sanitary standards of commercial kitchens. We could whine about "government regulations favoring big business" too, or we could suck it up and realize that the regulations were designed to keep dog hair and germs out of consumers' food.
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This is an excellent point. Idealistic college kids seem to always look over simple reasons for regulations that are in place and then spout off about conspiracy, big corporations, and a second shooter. It is getting ridiculous.
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I am not trying to be hurtful, but Karl clearly has a lot to learn about economics and life. Hopefully he will leave VT with a little more knowledge and experience.
Karl makes statements that seem to indicate that the gov should be more involved in certain areas of the economy in order to create a level playing field (at least that is what I am getting from his opinion piece). However from an economist's standpoint, if California producers can grow crops or create products, deliver them here, and still do it at prices more affordable than local competition then more power to them. If you think the gov should somehow take taxpayer money to subsidize locals to be competitive then you are crazy. All that does is take away from the overall effeciencies in the market and reduce the standard of living for everyone.
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