What Comes Naturally to Government

As the U.S. heads for a much bigger role for government in everything, it's instructive to look at our European cousins to see how big government plays out in real life rather than the rosy promises of American politicians. Here is an amusing rant by Lance Ulanoff, a PC Magazine columnist, about the battle between Microsoft and, as he calls them, the "band of European Union crossing guards" - a very apt description of their mentality. ( www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2348655,00.asp) I am writing this on an Apple so understand that I am no Microsoft apologist. Rather, this trade dustup illustrates what comes naturally to government when it becomes bloated and all-encompassing. You can be sure if it tries nanny-state stuff with Microsoft, individual citizens will be told how to wipe their noses (or elsewhere), how to raise their children, run their businesses, etc. Ulanoff's reaction is classically American - what a load of crap! It gives me hope that the basic American traits of impatience with government, individualism - generally the frontier spirit - will reassert themselves and blunt or even reverse the path on which we are now seemingly blindly rolling.

P.S. - But wait - there's more! Be sure to read this post (gizmodo.com/385626/crossing-guards-become-big-brothers ) discussing what crossing guards have become in Britain. Amazing!