Because Angels Don’t Govern Us

Now that the first round of spin has passed, we can take a second look at the lessons to be learned from the recent GAO and Secret Service scandals.

First, it really is a bit unfair to blame them on President Obama. The president is not directly involved in the day-to-day management of these agencies. Nor should he be. Moreover, misbehavior by government employees predates the Obama administration by quite a bit. In 460 b.c., for example, the Greek Delian League put nine government administrators to death for misusing public funds.
However, none of that lets President Obama entirely off the hook.
Too many on both the left and the right believe that government intervention in the economy or in the lives of individual citizens is necessary because only government can see the larger picture and act in a disinterested way for the benefit of the greater good. Businesses can be corrupt or self-seeking, and individuals may be myopic or make choices that others see as either morally or economically wrong. No doubt this view is correct, at least in some cases. In one way or another, we are all imperfect.

Read more: http://www.nationalreview.com/articles/297469/because-angels-don-t-govern-us-michael-tanner