The next "Man from Hope"

I was pleasantly surprised to see Joe Carter of Evangelical Outpost withdraw his endorsement of Fred Thompson, having seen him to be the empty suit conservative pretender he is. And yet, Joe went on a couple days later to throw his support behind Mike Huckabee.

I can understand -- from a Christian perspective, Huckabee says many appealing things. But then, so did George W. in 2000, and he's been an unmitigated disaster not only for Christian voters and the reputation of Christ's church, but for anyone who believes in federalism ("No Child Left Behind") and minimal government.

As the primaries shape up, I predict more evangelicals will line up behind Huckabee because he has the "right" positions on abortion (pro-life), marriage (pro-constitutional amendment) and so forth. But his campaign has enough echoes of Bush's "compassionate conservative" mantra to give me pause. Bush turned out to be neither, waging optional wars abroad (Iraq) while vastly increasing government at home (Patriot Act, Medicare drug benefits, etc).

Huckabee rightly emphasizes personal responsibility for one's own health--but still increased state health benefit programs in Arkansas ("for the children," naturally). I suspect that's an indicator he, too, would increase Federal meddling in this area. I believe the only way health care costs will ever get under control is to reduce government regulation and subsidy-by-insurance, and force people to pay-as-you-go so they learn the true costs of unhealthy lifestyle choices. Only one candidate I know of advocates this approach. (Interestingly enough, he's the only physician in the race...)

The health issue is merely a microcosm of the battle today over the proper role of government. On the one hand are minarchists (I'll cop to the label) who believe government should concern itself with national defense, enforcement of law and contracts, some areas of public infrastructure, and little else. On the other hand are those who seek government intervention into all the troublesome areas of life, here and abroad... and those, naturally, are legion. They're also usually emotional ("somebody's gotta do something!"), meaning the response isn't well-thought-out.

Any area into which government intrudes becomes a lever of power over the individual, and even the best-intended programs become unintended contraints--or are perverted to abuse. The more we try to address problems as individuals, neighborhoods and communities, and less as "the government," the freer we will be.

Plenty of Christians try to use government power to "win the culture war." Not only does this employ the wrong tool, it's dangerously shortsighted. The restrictions we empower government to place on others today could easily come back to haunt us tomorrow. As Washington said: "Government is not reason. Government is not eloquence. It is force. And, like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master."

Uncle Sam is too big as it is... we need to douse the flames, not throw more logs on the fire in the name of this or that social cause.