Question

"Government has laid its hand on health, housing, farming, industry, commerce, education, and to an ever-increasing degree interferes with the people's right to know. Government tends to grow, government programs take on weight and momentum as public servants say, always with the best of intentions. But the truth is that outside of its legitimate function, government does nothing as well or economically as the private sector of the economy" Can someone please teach me what Reagan means by this quote?

Answer 1

This is an argument for the reduction in the size of government. Reagan says that it has involved itself in a wider variety of areas than it ought and often with "the best of intentions". Although he does not state what the legitimate function of government is, he implies that it is ought to be narrower, defence, law and order etc. He says that many of the other areas in which government interferes should be left to the private sector. He is arguing for a more laissez-faire (leave it alone) form of government in which the private sector is allowed to respond to needs in areas such as heath and housing.