In a republic like the United States, the role of the federal government is designed to be limited while transferring certain autonomy to the individual states. In recent years we've seen the federal government grow is such a manner so as to completely stray from this design. Issues like nationalizing banks, taxpayer bailouts of unhealthy companies, "cash for clunkers," and proposals for government-run healthcare and fuel efficiency mandates put us on a path toward total control by one central, bureaucratic government--which is precisely what our Founding Fathers were trying to avoid.

I believe that the federal government's primary responsibilities should be to create a strong infrastructure upon which our economy can conduct robust business and provide services that are impossible (or not feasible) for states or individuals to provide themselves (like a cohesive national military, legal system to maintain general consistency from state-to-state, etc.). Beyond this, however, I believe that the federal government should not interfere in the goings-on of individual lives or that which should be governed by the states. Elected representatives at all levels are charged with removing obstacles to the private sector's efficiency and success...they are not there to slow it down. Excessive government programs and involvement, however, do just that. A large government is therefore only able to inhibit success--it can never be the source of it.