‘Limited government’ has its limitations

Dear Editor: In his letter of March 18, 2018, James T. Varelas despairs, “Is this the America our Founders fought and died for to bring about more freedom and the greatness of limited government?”

I answer no. And that that’s a good thing.

When our “enlightened Founding Fathers wrote a great Declaration of Independence ... and a Constitution,” the United States allowed slavery, women had few rights, and most states allowed only white male property owners to vote. These challenges were met by a government of the people, and corrections were made. I also remind Mr. Varelas that abolitionists, suffragettes and civil rights activists have fought and died for a free United States.

And while he advocates “limited government,” Varelas should consider the triumphs of government every time he eats safe food, drinks safe water, occupies a safe building, breathes clean air, enjoys the removal of his garbage and his sewage, safely travels by air, land and sea, uses our libraries, enjoys our museums and parks, and reads a newspaper, even if it is critical of those in power. Consider, too, that it is the power of government and a country of laws that allows the very freedoms he seems to lament as gone.

Since the time of our Founding Fathers, there have been prodigious changes in industry, science, transportation and communications. These changes have brought on challenges that require education, debate and careful thought.

What won’t help, what has never helped, are people with lists of thoughtless, angry, arrogant opinions on complex topics.

Arlene Puentes, Kingston