A Middle Role for Government
What is the role of government? Each of these different utopian philosophies is in response to the development of industrialism; Social Darwinism says government should do absolutely nothing in regard to industrialism, while the two socialisms say government should take complete control of society. Socialism, obviously, is not the answer. But Social Darwinism is not the answer either; there can't be a government which does absolutely nothing. There is a middle path between the extremes of Social Darwinism and socialism, however, which recognizes that the situation created by industrialism does require some response from government; government must do that which the individual is unable to do. Essentially this is positive government, using the power of government to extend the freedom of the individual. This doesn't mean government trying to take control of people's lives, or trying to strip them of their responsibility and freedom. It simply is a recognition of the fact that in an industrialized society government must assume certain responsibilities which are too large for the individuals acting alone. This is the role government should take, using its power to extend the freedom of the individual by assuming those responsibilities which are beyond the individual's power.