Just a bunch of junk

Government is a lot like junk food. Junk food is technically food and an option when you are hungry. The problem is that when you are hungry it is usually a bad idea to satiate that hunger with potato chips and candy. As adults we understand that junk food does not satiate our needs and will typically lead us to having an upset stomach. Worse than replacing a meal with junk food is making junk food a part of your diet. As poorly a substitute as junk food is in the short term, the long term effects of having junk food as a part of a person’s diet are far more damaging. Instead of supporting life, which is the basic purpose of food, junk food actually will damage life.

Now that is not to say that junk food is always bad. Junk food has a designed purpose and it serves that purpose well. Junk food is there for a snack. It is there for people to enjoy occasionally and with moderation. Ice cream is good for desert. A candy bar is a good snack when you have sweet tooth. Some potato chips are a good addition to a well made sandwich.

There is a perfectly good purpose for junk food and junk food is amazing when used for that intended purpose. It is when we stray from that intended purpose that we begin to harm ourselves. The important thing is that we understand that it is our responsibility as junk food eaters to eat it right. It is not the junk food’s fault if we lack the will power to resist the temptation of a tasty treat, and if we find ourselves obese from too much junk food then we must accept the difficulties of regaining our health.

Government is just like junk food. Government has a purpose, and it suits that purpose very well. We even have instructions as to what is the purpose of government. We as a people find ourselves at fault when we begin to overindulge in government. Much like junk food is always tasty, the idea of passing off our responsibilities and problems to a faceless institution seems to be quite provocative. But much as junk food fails to satiate our hunger, government will fail to adequately address our responsibilities and problems. If as a nation we begin to use government in ways outside its purpose then we will find ourselves quite unhealthy as a people.

- The Banker