We’re In This Together: Government & Society
Posted on Apr 21, 2007 under General |The April issue of Sojourners magazine focuses on the role of government in society. There are several great articles that examine the role of government in regards to public health, disaster relief (including Katrina) and poverty among other topics. Providing a good introduction is Jim Wallis’s editorial All Hands on Deck (registration required to view).
All three sectors of a society need to be functioning well for its health and well-being—the private (market) sector, the public sector, and the civil society (nongovernmental and nonprofit organizations, of which faith communities are a part). It is like a three-legged stool. When one leg is too long, the stool loses its balance. Each sector has crucial roles to play. Each should do what only it can do, and not replace what the others can do better. A society works when each sector does its share and does what it does best.
Non profit organizations have collectively been called the “third sector” and Wallis’ statements above describe a three legged stool. I assume that by “public sector” he is referring to government. Though governing bodies are here to serve the public, they are also institutions often far removed from the mass public. It seems that this should be a four legged table - government, public (individuals), non profit, and private (commerce).
Individuals have a voice in all of these sectors. In many respects each sector is meant to serve the common good. At the end of the day, from billion dollar corporations to small local businesses, commerce must serve the common good or it will eventually end up out of business. (i.e. Enron)
I BELIEVE THE future will see a myriad of “new partnerships” formed to solve many of our social problems. That’s because the problems are simply too large for one sector of society to solve. It will take all of us, finding new allies and common ground.
I wholeheartedly agree. To truly make a difference in the issues the affect individuals, our own societies and the world, we must all work together.
