Small l liberal

The irony hasn’t still left me that I have joined a party that is typically meant to resemble “big government”.  I do not really endorse the whole concept of a large bureaucracy, but even some of the most hardened libertarians that even a minimal government is needed.  I guess I’m still trying to find my stance when it comes to ideologies, possibly because I’m conflicted between my economics beackground mixed with my interest in equality.  But compared to the alternative, is the ALP really the party of big government now?

That’s not to say the ALP of champions of the free market, the party still enjoys putting its hand in market distortions and active interventions.  But I believe that the ALP is more open to smaller government than the former Howard government.

I would argue that it’s Australians at large that demand a Big Brother government.  We want more standards, code of conducts, scrutiny (‘watchdogs’), subsidies and tax breaks.  The Feds want to set up a scheme that is effectively another level of bureaucracy. Although the ALP are pushing hard on it, it was a coalition initative to begin with.  Another odd circle in Australian politics.

I’m not convinced more government is good government 100% of the time.  The betterment of the Australian people must lie with the people, the Government’s role must be passive and structural, not invasive.