How would you like your government?

Wouldn't it be nice if it were that easy, like ordering your eggs for breakfast?
Yes, scrambled please. Not too dry and crumbly but not too wet and runny either.
Oh, and with ketchup of course. Thank you.

Part of the reason that it's not that easy to custom order your government is because it involves more than one person being governed and of course we all have unique preferences. You might prefer your eggs fried, sunny side up. But really, ideally, government would be best if it was custom tailored for each person, wouldn't it? It's such a novel idea that it's actually difficult to imagine. Or is it? What if that kind of government already exists?

One challenge when speaking about government is that we tend to think of the BIG forms of government. For example, when you hear someone say "the Government is growing 10% per year" you probably think of the Federal Government. It's OK, we all do that. But I wish we didn't. We've been trained by the media, by each other and by the big forms of government themselves to think and talk that way. Do you want to call that being brainwashed? You would probably be right. How then shall we think? And speak? And live?

Before I go any further, these are basic ideas I think we can all agree on:
Government is necessary
Government should serve the best interest of the governed
Government involves power, and power tends to corrupt
Government involves politics, and politics tends to be divisive
Government involves control, and control tends to expand

Assuming that we agree on those 5 ideas, consider the following statement: The very thing that is necessary but tends toward corruption, divisiveness, and expansion should be serving the best interest of the governed. When stated like that, it's a wonder that governments last as long as they do. It also comes as no surprise then, that every federal government has a shelf life as these tendencies cause nations to implode over time (if not overtaken by another country/government operating under the same expansion dynamic).

The first idea is an amoral fact of life - that government is necessary.
The second idea is good - government should serve the best interest of the people.
The next 2 ideas could be labeled bad;  the dynamics that eventually cause the implosion or demise of the good and necessary thing- corruption and divisiveness.
The last idea seems to be morally neutral in itself. Expanding is great if the content and dynamic is good. Expanding is terrible if the content and/or dynamic is bad.

So what? Now what?

History, experience and common sense all tell us the same thing: the government that best serves the people is decentralized. The more local and relationship driven, the better. And I'll cut straight to the chase here: The family is the best government around when it's fully functioning. 

*News Flash*--------*10:08pm, April 21, 2015*---------*TRUE STORY*
I just heard what I thought was a gunshot in our neighborhood. Other neighbors on Facebook have pretty much confirmed that it was actually some type of firework. A discussion ensued and there was talk of the danger of a fire being started as it's so dry and of the police not responding to calls in the past. I suggested a form of self-government. One neighbor who seems to know the source said "J, I love the idea and will happily see if I can chat with them..."  
I volunteered to go with them.
If I wasn't in the middle of thinking and writing about this, I may not have suggested what I did. Makes me wonder how much I've been brainwashed: #notmyproblem #taxdollarsatworknotatwork

Q: What are the chances that our visit will have a better net effect than a visit by the police?
A: Consider: tax dollars (police time and expenses better served in other ways), neighborhood relations (not "us vs. them"  but " us helping us"), stopping that activity from them in the future (public and private property damage, possibly lives at stake)

Q: What are the chances that the harmful activity could have been avoided by a fully functioning family background vs. by govt?
A: Way, way better considering that government isn't good at preventative crime (it's not their job and the more they attempt to, the more they interfere with personal liberty). Family is the best context for instilling character starting from the very beginning.

Q: Why is a well functioning family the best government?
*note: I'm using the terms well functioning and fully functioning to describe a dynamic that would require a whole 'nuther blog post. It's not a perfect family - in fact, the way it deals with not being perfect is perhaps the best indicator of how well it does function and is the root of the need for government in the first place. Hope that makes sense.

A: Families have the unique ability to discipline in love like no other relationships. Examples of some that can serve as great substitutes and enhancements are: Coaches, Teachers, Mentors, etc. When we are confronted with our dark side, we know that impersonal, uncaring force is the worst way to effect positive influence and change. In fact, it typically drives the recipient deeper into darkness. People respond to love and literally never tire of being loved. It is impossible for larger, centralized forms of government to provide this because of the relational requirement.

So the aspect of laws (legislating, adjudicating and enforcing) is one thing and easy to see how a family that models the basics of love and the golden rule are the best foundation and guide for people to self-govern. But what about Mail delivery, Defense, Infrastructure, Parks, Education, etc, etc.?

This post can't address all those in detail but I'll throw some ideas out:
1. The more local a service can be, the less overhead it will have and the more efficient it will be.
2. Some services, but precious few, can only and should only be carried out by the Federal Govt. I would say Defense falls firmly there. Not much else. The way our country was originally set up, the States have the say over much of what the Feds now operate.

This reminds me of a dynamic that I think may be in play: When a smaller form of government abdicates it's role and responsibility, a larger and more impersonal form will take on the role and responsibility by default. If a family doesn't function well, it will spill onto the churches, onto the schools, onto employers, the police, the courts, etc. As the chain grows, the costs increase and the efficiency goes down. If I did enough research, there is probably a case for this going all the way to Federal Defense Scope and Budget. Why else would we need to worry about invasions, terrorism, etc if the families and communities of the world governed themselves well?

Another awesome thing about families is that term limits are built in. Maybe that's a healthy example to use for other forms of government? As a father with my amazing wife, our real governing days are coming to an end. In all, it will last about 25 years total. Our children may take the baton in that arena and start fresh, with some of the foundation that Cheri and I have built. The best form of government is continually being renewed and refreshed, yet built on foundations that are eons old. Now that's beautiful government. Two words you never see together!

My challenge to you when faced with a 'government issue' is to look for the smallest, decentralized, grassroots way to solve it. The answer may be right in front of you and the effect may surprise you.