Most people, in the United States, have an opinion about our government – whether it be the Federal Government, their State Government or their local government. After serving 30 plus years in government I know opinions about government change: they change from year to year, month to month and even day to day based on what people experience, hear or see on the news.
America has a complex government system. Remember we were founded as a Republic, not as a Democracy as everyone thinks. It is almost overwhelming for public servants to give everyone a fair say in government and still provide for public safety, ensure trade and promote commence etc. Running American Government is a daunting task at any level.
This article will share some fun trivia – most Americans are unaware of or seldom consider when assessing government policies. Its goal is to everyone appreciate the challenges government servants {elected, appointed and hired} face as they provide services each day.
For example, most people don’t realize the highest paid public employee in 27 states is the Head Football Coach at the State’s major University – some coaches making well over 7 figures. Even though our system of trade and commerce is based on currency few Americans are aware the average life expectancy of paper currency ($1, $5 and $10) is approximately 5 years yet coins (pennies, nickels and dimes) average 30 years. Hey, remember when the federal government wanted to save money and replace the dollar bill with the Susan B Anthony coin? Americans and especially American business owners were outraged. No one wanted a dollar coin. No one, then and no one now, knows that it costs the US Mint 1.8 cents to produce a penny and 9.4 cents to mint a nickel?
For only one reason, I follow Alaskan government issues – because I had the pleasure to being stationed in Alaska when I was in the United Sates Air Force. Most Americans don’t know or care that Alaska is “429” times larger – in geographic area – then the state of Rhode Island; yet Alaska has only one congressional representative in Washington DC whereas Rhode Island has two. I also love to point out that Alaska’s State Capital, the city of Juneau is roughly 3,000 square miles in size which makes its governmental jurisdiction boundaries larger than the entire state of Delaware?
Everyone knows the Second Amendment gives Americans the right to own guns; however, Americans are sharply divided on gun ownership. Here, however, are some undeniable facts. During 2014, Law Enforcement Officers in America drew their weapons and killed 1,100 people; whereas Law Enforcement Officers in Canada drew their weapons and only killed 14 people. But what is really crazy is that Law Enforcement officials in China {a country with 1.357 Billion people – 4 times more populated then the US} drew their weapons and killed only12 people. In the entire nation of Germany during 2014 not one armed Law Enforcement Official killed anyone.
Finally, Americans love their cars and trucks and demand Federal, State and Local Government Officials provide good roads and motorways. We begrudgingly pay gasoline taxes, vehicle registration taxes and even sales taxes on all motorized vehicle transactions to fund infrastructure projects for our roadways. According to the American Automobile Association the United States has 845 registered motor vehicles for every 1,000 people. The two other countries dependent on motorized vehicles are Japan and Germany. Japan has 593 cars registered motor vehicles (one third of which are two wheeled vehicles) for every 1,000 people and German has only 540 vehicles – 20% which are large autobahn transport trucks registered for every 1000 people.
Government, especially American Government, is not easy; it’s not black and white like most want to believe. Its complex and deals with a myriad of issues. Knowing facts and especially understanding the impact of trivia can help produce better government decisions and better government results.
