In the News
Governor Cox just released his budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year, and the usual reactions are rolling in. Commentators are debating line items. Media outlets are tracking which programs gained or lost funding. That kind of analysis matters (we do it ourselves), but there’s a deeper question worth asking.
Should the government be doing most of these things in the first place?
Here’s My Take
Budget season can feel like theater. We argue over amounts while ignoring the assumption behind it all: the idea that spending is the default solution to every problem. While lawmakers decide how to allocate taxpayer money, the conversation rarely challenges whether government intervention is even the right approach. Surely the government has a role to play in some of these issues, but just as surely, not all of them.
Some problems are better handled by market innovation, voluntary associations, or grassroots community action. When housing remains severely unaffordable despite government interventions, perhaps zoning restrictions and regulatory costs are the real culprits. When Utah’s schools outperform higher-spending states while spending far less per student, it suggests more funding isn’t always the answer, especially when student populations are declining.
Most people never look beyond headlines, which is how bad policies can slip through unnoticed. This is why Libertas Institute tracks every bill impacting freedom, fighting to protect individual rights and, most importantly, asking, “Is this the role of the government?”
