Jake's Feb 2009 Query

[Jake Patterson]

A quote from our eloquent new President’s inaugural speech:
The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or
too small, but whether it works – whether it helps families find jobs
at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is
dignified. Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward. Where
the answer is no, programs will end. And those of us who manage the
public’s dollars will be held to account - to spend wisely, reform bad
habits, and do our business in the light of day – because only then
can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.

A beautiful statement. This is something that we have hoped to hear
from a motivated and energetic leader for a long time.
Accountability! Ending crappy programs! Trust! And if all goes
well, good judgment making necessary moves to initiate change. That’s
what his entire rallying cry was.

What concerns me however is the premise of the statement. If
government works, he says, then that government will…what? It will
help families find jobs. It will help them retire. It will make sure
people are earning a decent wage. And my question is, is that what a
government’s duty is, to you? Do you think it is good or bad to have
a government’s definition of “working” constituted thus?

[Scott Nesler]

I've been drawn to read Plato's, The Republic. 36 of 41 sections of
the book are complete in auto book form on Librivox.

I would suggest this book as a group read. I see this nearly 2500
year old book adding to the many discussions we have in the role of
government. I have listened to the first couple of sections with
great interest. Instead of the typical book review, I would
suggest reading a section at a time and providing a weekly discussion
on the section. Too much would be lost by reading the whole book
and contemplating about it in the end.

A section dissection of the book would be in tune with the group forum
illustrated at least in the first two sections. I assume the whole
book is this way. I also see this book review method as another
tool to add to the weapons of mass comprehension arsenal.

Many of the arguments spun around in this book are highly relevant to
the issues of today.

I would hope that Brett would be interested in discussing this book as
well.

[Brett Kraus]

It has been a while since I read Plato's Republic, but I will go back
and read these sections and return to comment.