It is not true that government can never do anything right

I am tired of hearing that, of course, government can never run anything right. In an attempt to rebut this notion I have been compiling a list of examples of well done government. I don't want to get into nitpicking arguments over whether, for instance, expenditures on the space race should be considered beneficial, so I should explain my criteria.

The accusation is bad management, so that is what I am judging. I am confining this to the USA, since that is where the accusation is loudest. I realize that some of the organizations listed have been used for less than honorable purposes by their political masters, but that does not take away from the fact that they achieved important goals successfully without bankrupting the country (so far at least). So I welcome suggestions got additions to the list, but if you disagree with any of my choices (or other peoples suggestions) by all means express your opposition but please not the reason for your objection. I am open to discussion about my criteria.

I also intend, when I have some time, to write a full article on this topic, analyzing the merits and shortcomings of public versus private ownership, and where each is appropriate. When I do it will appear in a thread of its own. In the meantime please honor the limitations of this thread.

I am thinking that this might make a good poster.

Here is my list of things that came immediately to mind (in no particular order)

Post office
The armed services
The judiciary
The library system
National weather service
Interstate highway system
Social security
Medicare
Food safety
Federal housing authority
GI bill of rights
Consumer protection
Rural electrification
Moon landing
Hoover dam
Internet
FDIC
FAA
Air traffic control
Peace corps
NCIS
Public universities
Public school system
University agricultural extensions
Marshall plan
Panama Canal

Patrick Brinton