Not much of a change

Two weeks ago Barak Obama was sworn in as our country's next president. The media and most Americans seem to be elated at the idea. It feels more like a wedding between lovers than a political appointment. I, on the other hand, feel despair and defeat. Ironically Obama's campaign motto was "change" yet the only change we'll see in political ideology and direction is the pace. Obama will simply accelerate the march towards socialism and the erosion of personal liberty and accountability. There is nothing new or unique about his philosophy and intentions.
Unfortunately there are few people who evaluate politics in terms of what it actually accomplishes instead of its intentions and promises. The American public has taken this naiveté and ignorance to a new level with the election of Obama. They don't even pause to ask what type of change he plans to implement or what the consequences of it will be. "Anything is better than what we have" they seem to say. What I think they will find is that things can and will get much worse. The reason I believe this is that history has taught us that governments can be a tremendously powerful force for good or bad for those it governs. History is replete with examples of tyrannical governments that have caused untold suffering, despair, and oppression through bad choices and policies. Ironically these choices have almost universally been accepted by the public through a belief in their good intentions rather than their inescapable consequences. The lesson that seems to never be learned is that less government is generally better than more government. Our natural desire for comfort and abundance makes us want to believe a politician who promises abundance without price yet nature itself does not allow this. No government mandate can provide health care, food, housing, jobs, and defense without a cost. All these things must be paid for, the question is how and by whom.
Counter intuitive as it may seem, the most likely way for a society to achieve abundance and productivity is through individual responsibility and good will. Government can best provide these things by creating an environment where people can provide for themselves, and through their own good will and choice provide for those who cannot do so themselves.
I fear that the more we look to government to provide for our needs the more we will come up wanting. It is a terrible illusion that proposes that government can better allocate the resources of a nation than individual choice and accountability can. Man’s unfortunate tendency to control others and abuse power virtually guarantees that too much power in a government will lead to oppression and suffering no matter how lofty and noble the original intentions.
If it were up to me I would choose less government, more individual responsibility, and with God's help a better world.