Once again we see the public being ridiculed and blamed for its seemingly schizophrenic response to a survey about government (Steve Chapman’s “Arrested development,” Op-Ed, March 12).
Instead of hectoring us about “wanting it both ways” in his response to the Pew survey, Mr. Chapman might better spend his time studying the underlying reasons for the public’s seemingly contradic-tory responses to the survey. Yes, we do regard the government as a burden and an overly intrusive, wasteful menace when we are taxed for airplanes that don’t fly when wet, armored carriers (Bradleys) that are a joke, subsidies (to the tobacco industry) that kill, and expensive “independent” investigations that last for years, cost millions and go nowhere, etc.
And, yes, at the same time, we believe that if the waste, inefficiency, corruption and incompetence could be eliminated, government could do more than it does in providing health care, adequate food, clothing, shelter, education and care for the elderly. (Is this too much to ask of the government of the wealthiest nation in the world?)
Instead of calling us names, perhaps a more thoughtful analysis of why the public feels the way it does toward government would contribute to a better understanding of the average overburdened and underserved citizen’s responses to the Pew survey.
