Taxation and Government (John Fiske), pp. 249-254.

North Carolina Club year book, 1917-1918, pp. 49-68 (University of
North Carolina Record, Extension Series No. 30, Chapel Hill,
N.C.).

Tufts, Jas. H., The real business of living, pp. 52-54; 242-246
(Henry Holt Co.).

Hart, A.B., Actual government, pp. 381-429 (Longmans, Green &
Co.).

Reed, T.H., Form and functions of American government, pp. 468-481
(World Book Co.).

Encyclopedia of American government, under “Tax” and “Taxation.”

Plehn, C.C., Introduction to public finance (Macmillan).

CHAPTER XXIV

HOW WE GOVERN OURSELVES

Early in our study we considered the question why we have government (Chapter iv).  We saw then that it is the people’s organization for teamwork in protecting and promoting their common interests.  Succeeding chapters contain evidence that this is so, although they also show that the results achieved by government are by no means perfect.  Now we are to consider how we have organized to get teamwork and how well our organization is suited to its purpose.

GOVERNMENT AS A PROTECTOR OF INDIVIDUAL INITIATIVE

“American experience indicates that what men do for themselves, on their own initiative, is better done than what paternalistic government attempts to do for them.” [Footnote:  Editorial, Saturday evening post, February 12, 1921.] Americans have always disliked paternalism in government, which means an attempt on the part of government to control the personal affairs of the people as a father (Latin, Pater) controls the affairs of a small child.  Democracy is founded on faith in the ability of the people to manage their own affairs with due regard for the equal rights of other people.  We look upon our government chiefly as an instrument to ensure an equal opportunity to all to exercise initiative and to manage their own affairs; or, to use the terms we have used before, not so much to do things for us, as to secure teamwork in doing things for ourselves.  We have had numerous examples of this principle in preceding chapters, one of which was the extent to which private initiative and enterprise were depended upon for the development of our public lands.

GOVERNMENT AS A PERFORMER OF SERVICE