By Noah Tagliaferri, political columnist

Watching Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) debate the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) earlier this month was a great showing of how debates should look. Rather than broad character attacks, both men stuck to facts and evidence to back up their differing views for health care in the country.

Sanders was, of course, pushing for free health care for all, saying that government running all of health care will get rid of greed and take the burden off of citizens. Cruz argued for private health care companies and less government involvement, saying that it will spur competition and allow for lower prices while also preserving freedom and choice. While one can argue the merits for and against either one of their solutions, one thing struck me as weird in Sanders’ argument.

Here is a man who perpetuates this belief of being for the little guy, the working class and those without opportunities. He talks about how the government is corrupt, in bed with businesses and doesn’t treat citizens fairly. In fact, many on the left espouse the same beliefs. They talk about how fascism is coming in the form of President Donald J. Trump and the Republicans.

This kind of talk sounds quite alarming. I don’t think anyone in the mainstream wants fascism, the governmental style that Hitler and Mussolini used. Who would?! That would mean the complete control of government over all industries, abolishing all control you have over your own life and skyrocketing government involvement in everything from the social to economic facets of your life. So, we should listen to Sanders and the Democrats, right?

Sen. Sanders and the left argue that you should give more money to the government. They think that this government that does so many wrongs should be in control of the health care industry. That they should mandate every aspect of your child’s education. That throwing more money at the government for them to misuse will somehow fix the problem. That taking away your right to protect yourself will make you more safe. That if they maybe just get the policies right, a government with more power will help its citizens.

On the flip side, the Republicans argue for smaller government. For a government that stays out of your business and allows you to grow. A government that does not mandate every aspect of your life. Now, just looking at the philosophies behind the Democrats and Republicans, which one sounds more like fascism to you?

For me, the answer is simple. Government power cannot be abused when it does not have enough power to oppress. Government can only be abused when it is stronger than the people it is supposed to serve, which is tyranny.

A government that helps its citizens is one that allows them to thrive. When more and more of a country’s GDP is given to the government, less of that money can be held onto by the people, creating a vicious cycle of expanding government, leading to expanding issues and continuing until the government is so large that it either fails or becomes an entity separate to the people, no longer a government of the people, for the people and by the people.

Photo courtesy D.C.Atty, Creative Commons