Thomas Aquinas argued that government is natural to man. Following Aristotle, he believed we are social animals who must organize for the purposes of best allocating and distributing resources in such a way as to maximize our potential for recognizing and journeying toward God.

For this reason, I do not believe that Aquinas would ever agree with Reagan’s claim that “Government isn’t the solution; government is the problem.”

Now, I am pleased to say that Professor Jonathan Amy has provided a sound argument using contemporary economics, social theory and data to prove the same point: Government really is a solution to the problem of unequitable resource distribution and the need for infrastructure.

I’ve been enjoying greatly his blog, governmentisgood.com and look forward to reading his book.

Ralph Nader endorses the book in the following words:

“Government is Good by Douglas J. Amy, creator of governmentisgood.com, Dog Ear Publishing, Indianapolis, IN 2011. This professor of politics at Mount Holyoke College debunks the myths of corporatist-Republican propaganda, surfaces the realities of government’s services, explains the war on government and how to revitalize both democracy and government from its present distortions by self-seeking organized private power. Douglas Amy is the man Cong. Paul Ryan would never debate.”

Please spend some time on his website and learn some his arguments, which bolster Aquinas’s own claim that government is necessary for the natural organization of human society.