Tan Parker - Making Government Work

Copyright 2020 by Tan Parker, Spaeth Communications, Inc., and Texas Public Policy Foundation

Defending the Second Amendment chapter copyright 2020 by Chuck Norris

Foreword by Ronald Reagan reprinted with permission.

Care of: Making Government Work

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Austin, Texas 78701

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Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible (NASB), Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org.

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This book is dedicated to the memory of Tex Lezar. Tex was one of the nations greatest conservative legal minds of the century, a dedicated patriot and public servant, and most importantly, a wonderful husband and father and a man of deep faith. We thank him for his life of service to others and for constantly giving back to the state and nation that he loved. He is dearly missed by all who knew and loved him.

His life and legacy live on through his wife, Merrie, his wonderful children, and in the ideas and principles that he championed that are contained in the pages of this book. My hope is that he would think we did justice to his lifes work.

This book is dedicated to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, who have sacrificed their time, talents, and all too often their lives to advance and protect the cause of liberty. They have allowed this constitutional republic to flourish despite great challenges for over 240 years, and in so doing have cultivated the most economically prosperous, freedom-loving, compassionate, and generous nation the world has ever known.

You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months.

The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you.

In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944. Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 194041. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned. The free men of the world are marching together to victory.

I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full victory.

Good Luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

General Dwight D. Eisenhower

June 6, 1944

by Ronald Reagan, from the 1994 edition of Making Government Work

D uring my time as Governor of California, I realized that the biggest problems we had regarding big government had to be solved in Washington, which was gradually but inexorably taking power from the states. We have now at least begun the process of returning to the states some of the powers they need to meet the needs of our citizens. That effort must be continuedand metby new proposals for action by the states and localities. That is the purpose of this book, to provide A Conservative Agenda for the States.

Im reminded of something that James Madison said in 1788: Since the general civilization of mankind, I believe there are more instances of the abridgment of the freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachment of those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations. His friend and neighbor, Thomas Jefferson, thought much the same way. What has destroyed liberty and the rights of men in every government that has ever existed under the sun? he asked. And he then answered: The generalizing and concentrating of all cares and powers into one body.

As Governor of California, I experienced how the federal bureaucracy had its hand in everything and was concentrating all cares and power into one body. Washington would establish a new program that the states were supposed to administer, then set so many rules and regulations that the state wasnt really administering ityou were just following orders from Washington. Most of these programs could not only be operated more effectively but also more economically with greater state and local discretion.

The federal government didnt create the states; the states created the federal government. Washington, ignoring principles of the Constitution, has, however, too frequently tried to turn the states into nothing more than administrative districts of the federal government. And the primrose path to federal control has, to a large extent, followed the lure of federal financial aid. From our schools to our farms, Washington bureaucrats have tried to dictate to Americans what they could or could not do. They have portrayed bureaucratic control as the price Americans must pay for federal aid from Washington. The money comes with strings that reach all the way back to the Potomac.

Usually with the best of intentions, Congress passes a new program, appropriates the money for it, then assigns bureaucrats in Washington to disperse the money. Almost always, the bureaucrats respond by telling states, cities, counties, and schools how to spend this money.

To use Madisons words, Washington usurped power from the states by the gradual and silent encroachment of those in power. Federal handouts frequently went to the states for programs the states would not have chosen themselves. But they took the money because it was there; it seemed to be free.

Over time, states and localities became so dependent on the money from Washington that, like junkies, they found it all but impossible to break the habit. Only after becoming addicted did they realize how pervasive the federal regulations were that came with the money.