Tuesday, October 27, 2009 (SF Chronicle)
Well, it's also your government, and to appreciate what that means, all you have to do is go outside and stand in front of where you live or work.
First, the sidewalk I'm standing on was poured and paved by city
government. So were Stanyan and Waller streets and all the streets running parallel and perpendicular to them. The sewers below are the work of government, as are the Municipal Railway power lines running above, the buses attached to the lines and the traffic lights, crosswalks, lanes (both auto and bicycle) and signs directing the traffic flow.
Drivers and the cars they operate are licensed by government. Automobile safety regulations, highway safety standards are all set by government.
Across Stanyan stands a McDonald's, its meat, dairy and other food
products subject to government inspection. Its food preparation is
examined by city health inspectors.
Next to the restaurant is a row of apartment buildings, all kept livable in adherence to government building codes and zoning regulations. Pipes bringing water in and sewage out of the apartments are financed and maintained by government. So are the streetlights.
Behind me is Golden Gate Park, a thousand acres of city-owned,
city-maintained parklands, set aside for the enjoyment of San Francisco's 750,000 residents and visitors from around the world. The park contains gardens, hiking trails, bike paths, a children's play area.
At the northern edge of the park is government-run Kezar Stadium, used for high school track meets and football games (and used by thousands of freelance joggers in between).
Behind Kezar is the San Francisco Police Department's Park precinct, providing public safety for citizens of the Haight and denizens of Golden Gate Park. Next to me is a call box for the San Francisco Fire Department.
On the hillside up Parnassus Street looms UCSF, where government-financed medical research, training for doctors, nurses and paraprofessionals takes place.
Overhead a commercial jetliner flies westward from
government-owned SFO, conforming to safety regulations of the Federal Aviation Administration, the guidance of federal air traffic controllers and the protection of federal air marshals and Homeland Security contractors.
You get the picture. We live in a civilized society with an array of
sophisticated public services (this account didn't even include the
military). Those who claim they don't need government should try living one day without it. Then, it is hoped, they'll stop advocating its starvation and pay their share.
Jeff Gillenkirk is a San Francisco writer. His novel, "Home, Away," will
be published in April by Chin Music Press.
Copyright 2009 SF Chronicle
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