[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 50 (Wednesday, March 25, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E415]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        HONORING MICHAEL BRENAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. PETE OLSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 25, 2015

  Mr. OLSON. Mr. Speaker, I am privileged to interact with some of the 
brightest students in the 22nd Congressional District who serve on my 
Congressional Youth Advisory Council. I have gained much by listening 
to the high school students who are the future of this great nation. 
They provide important insight into the concerns of our younger 
constituents and hopefully get a better sense of the importance of 
being an active participant in the political process. Many of the 
students have written short essays on a variety of topics and I am 
pleased to share them with my House colleagues.
  Michael Brenan attends Seven Lakes High School in Katy, Texas. The 
essay topic is: in your opinion, what role should government play in 
our lives?

       The debate on the role of government has raged in politics 
     since the very first inception of government in Sumeria over 
     5500 years ago. Today's society is certainly a far cry from 
     those long-gone times, but the discussion on governance still 
     continues on in our very own Congress to this day. The exact 
     issues have changes with the times, but general views on the 
     matter can be split into two groups: those who see the 
     government only as a stabilizing political and economic 
     entity, and those who also see it as a tool for significant 
     change.
       Regardless of the merits of either side, there are many 
     purposes of government which many consider inherent to its 
     existence and for which it was originally established. In 
     exchange for the ability to tax citizens for the money 
     required for its operation, the government provides the 
     critical services of public defense and order--police forces, 
     military, civil courts, and so on. The government is usually 
     also responsible for the universal system of standards (or at 
     the very least, adopting and enforcing standards set by the 
     ISO) as well as creating and maintaining transportation, a 
     monetary system, and upholding private ownership (at least in 
     a capitalist system). There are also a number of societal 
     industries and organizations which could be left alone to 
     their own mechanisms (by means of ultra-conservative laisses-
     fair policies), but governments usually take an active role 
     in at least rudimentary regulation such as professional 
     certification, education, basic human rights and labor laws, 
     and controlling or mitigating the natural ebb of flow of an 
     economy. Indeed, many of the aspects of government which 
     allow higher society to function are great and necessary 
     positives--the conflict arises in questions on using the 
     government's greater powers.
       The unfortunate reality of the ideological divide between 
     so called ``conservatives'' and ``liberals'' is that neither 
     side is particularly more correct than the other (regardless 
     of how much they may deride each other). However, it is well 
     known how dangerous great power can be, and it follows from 
     this that the society-changing power that a government has 
     should be used sparingly. The government should use its 
     ``social'' power when there is little other choice due to 
     deep-rooted ideologies which directly contradict the concept 
     of equality or threaten the safety and well-being of 
     citizens, as in the 1960s when segregation had to be forcibly 
     abolished or when government intervention seemed like the 
     only way to pull the US out of the Great Depression. Most 
     every individual has compassion for his common individual, 
     but ``compassion'' cannot simply be legislated through 
     extensive social programs, using money from people who may 
     not even agree with these programs. In all cases, when so 
     much money and so many lives may be at stake, caution must 
     necessarily trump passion.

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