Government not as bad as some say

In our neck of the woods, the word “government” is often used in a negative context.

We get it. Government does often get in the way. Paying taxes is a drag.

But it’s worth recognizing that government also does many things right and countless roles government fills are things none of us could accomplish individually.

There’s an example of this in today’s paper, in a story recounting the latest development in the long running series of projects to create an east-west corridor out of Bogard Road.

This is a project that has been ongoing longer than any of our newsroom staff has been in the journalism game. It’s been going on so long that the people that originally envisioned it in the 1980s aren’t in government anymore.

And this thoroughfare will likely be added to again, maybe after we’ve all retired. After the connection to Arctic Ave. on the east side is complete and after the road is extended to Pittman Road — a connection planned for 2018 — the borough envisions pushing it through to Houston. That idea is so theoretical at this point nobody’s putting a date on it. But the plan is there. It’s written down, waiting.

Following a plan through multiple generations of politicians and staff members is something government does that we as individuals cannot.

Also in that category: building roads. How would any one of us plan, design, buy up the right of way, or fund a multi-million dollar extension such as the small project in the works to extend Seldon 4 miles? Even if you build roads for a living, you do so with a contract in hand, with funding, with work orders from a client. Can any among us single handedly to build a school a year to meet the needs of our growing population?

The result of this project will be a more convenient corridor that also is safer route to take our kids to school, a route without the need to battle 18-wheelers on the Parks Highway. On the other end of the corridor, we get to avoid the Palmer-Wasilla Highway, which, along with the Parks and Knik-Goose Bay Road, is one of the three most dangerous roads in Mat-Su.

Parents incapable of teaching math to sullen teenagers can also thank government for middle and high schools. The disabled can thank government for regulations that mandate wheelchair ramps.

Day-to-day, this is what government looks like — roads built over years and debates about where and when to build a high school. Sure, there are sometimes big flashy projects to accomplish — ports to build, rails to extend and ferries to sell — but it’s the less visible, everyday stuff that really improves a person’s life.

It’s worth the mental effort to stop now and again when you’re navigating the latest roundabout or taking your kid to a borough-owned pool or pulling over for a fire truck headed to rescue one of your neighbors and be thankful we live in a place where the orderly function of government is so efficient that we’re able to complain about taxation and building permits.