..Americans' distrust of government has achieved a kind of fervor and pervasiveness not seen since...during the debates over the ratifying of our constitution."
This passage brings into lucidity that the following discussion Neiman posited in the book. He identifies core principles wherein he provides readers a simple 'overview' of his arguments all throughout the book. Among the arguments presented, Neiman's claim that "[t]he belief that the distinction between coercion and voluntarism is clear and that coercion is a feature of big, powerful, and dangerous government..." Embedded within this statement is a reflection of what American society has developed into: a society that recognizes the efforts of particular programs that specific organizations provide for them, yet inherently criticizes whatever programs the government, which is the society's 'political representative'...
Nevertheless, his focus on bringing back the trust of the civil society by calling to their attention the government's functions is perhaps a fresh respite from the usual anti-government discourse that remain to be popular at present. In sum, "Defending the Government" is 'back-to-the-basics' course that every American individual should know about in order to encourage to remain vigilant, yet united, to cooperate with the government and promote its efforts to bringing beneficial services and programs for the civil society.
Works Cited
Neiman, M. (1999). Defending the government: Why Big Government works. NY: Prentice Hall.
