“The government is oppressing us!” is the constant outcry of the American citizenry. “They’re taking away our rights! Stealing our money! Limiting our freedoms!” Shouts and denouncements of the governmental body are hardly lacking and a general discontent for the running of the political system pervades the residents of the United States. Yet what is often perceived as a totalitarian regime is actually the opposite: a poorly functioning government that doesn’t do enough for its citizens. It may legislate and deny and limit, of course, but it does a pitiful job of regulating and ensuring basic freedoms and rights that are endowed to the population by the Constitution. The government does not do enough because of the increasing violence that saturates the American culture, the crippling poverty, joblessness, and ill health that permeate the country, and the overall air of contempt that citizens have for the bureaucratic enterprise.

It seems today that the nightly news is positively dripping with violence, crimes, acts of terrorism, freak accidents, corruptness, and the like. Yet most of these despicable occurrences can be prevented by positive governmental intervention. To decrease the trend of violent crimes such as shootings, stricter limits must be enacted by the government to monitor who can carry a gun so as to protect the safety of the general populace. Decreasing terrorism is harder to regulate as it is such a hot-button issue, but the government must work together with the people for the safety of all American citizens. Joblessness and homelessness are other ills that pervade the news stations. And yet it seems that the government is doing little if anything to reverse the trend. If America’s society is to improve, it must start with the government. The bureaucracy has the power to enact laws for the betterment of society and they must use these powers for mutual benefit.

A particularly hot-button issue that has gained publicity recently is healthcare. The government attempts to regulate healthcare with the imposition of Obamacare, but not nearly enough people are covered. America’s system of medical care is oft compared to that of Canada, where healthcare is offered without cost to citizens. American government does not offer this and instead makes people pay out of pocket for their care. Other Canadian governmental systems have American citizens repeating a desire to suddenly relocate. In order for the American people to appreciate and approve of governmental actions they must first enact programs worth supporting for the goal of the betterment of society. Some people may insist that the government is doing their best with limited funds, but this is not true. A lack of competence is clearly evident.

Violence, lack of healthcare, and many other issues such as corruption have painted a rather bleak picture of American government. This overall air of ineptitude has contributed to a lack of respect for governmental authority. Many citizens are outspoken regarding the current political system and have opinions on how to better the running of the bureaucratic enterprise. And yet the government isn’t taking any suggestions. It simply isn’t doing enough to help its citizens and that eventually gives way to disdain for the government and a desire to take matters into one’s own hands.

Despite the government’s best efforts as of late, problems continue to become ever more prevalent in the eyes of American citizens. Poverty and unemployment, corruption and poor healthcare, violence and disdain continue to plague the United States. The government isn’t helping. The people know it. But if the government were to prioritize their goals and duties as a rule-making body, America can be the free and just country it was always meant to be.