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Why Give Government More Control?
Joe Biden’s student debt cancellation leads to a larger question: Who has the authority to turn society Topsy-Turvey? Massive intrusion by government is so commonplace, argues James Freeman, “policy arguments hardly even address the question of whether the federal government has the authority to force significant changes upon U.S. society.”
Often the only real debate is over which part of the federal government gets to do the intruding.
It is hard to be optimistic about keeping power out of the hands of those of whom it does not belong, continues Mr. Freeman in the WSJ.
The Journal’s Jan Wolfe reports on Justice Gorsuch’s response when questioned about the impact a government agency (like the Dept of Education) should be able to have on the nation’s economy.
In an exchange with Mr. Campbell, the lawyer arguing for GOP-led states, Justice Gorsuch asked whether Education Secretary Miguel Cardona was outside his area of expertise when he put forth a regulation with such an extensive economic impact as the debt-forgiveness plan.
Justice Gorsuch asked: “I understand the [Education] Secretary has considerable expertise when it comes to educational affairs, but in terms of macroeconomic policy, do we normally assume that every cabinet secretary–learned as they are–has that kind of knowledge?”
“No we don’t,” Mr. Campbell responded. “Congress has the power and expertise to weigh the balancing and competing fiscal implications …this is something that’s outside the secretary’s expertise.”
Beyond Questions of Law
Isn’t, asks Mr. Freeman, this an important issue for a healthy and functioning society?
The issue calls to mind former government disease doctor Anthony Fauci, who was able to successfully advocate for massive societal changes while clearly lacking relevant expertise and even while acknowledging he hadn’t studied critical issues related to the impact of his recommendations.
The U.S. Government the Perpetrator of Misinformation
As for the federal government in general, even holding relevant expertise doesn’t mean that officials will give citizens accurate information.
Dr. Marty Makary of John Hopkins told the House Oversight Committee on Tuesday, “The greatest perpetrator of misinformation during the pandemic has been the United States government.”
As Mr. Freeman urges, “Let’s not give it more power.”
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