"Government is the solution to every problem."

The cartoon to the right has gone around the internet a couple of times.  The signature sources it to Gary Varvel, but I have been unable to find it from a reputable source.  As far as I can tell it originated in 2010, but the cartoon may have been drawn in 2009.

The cartoon has the President saying, "Government is the solution to every problem."  This is hyperbole at best and a strawman at worst.  The President on a number of occasion has stated that government is not the solution to every problem.  Here are a few examples.  I provided these, not because I voted for the man, but because I really dislike strawmen.

There are those out there who say this can't be done -- it can't be done efficiently, it can't be done effectively. We've gone through a lot of years where we were told what government cannot do. Government can't do anything by itself, we've got to have the private sector involved. But there are critical things the government can do -- right here at the Department of Transportation. (Applause.)

Each and every one of you have a critical role to play. And if you do your work, if you do your job as well as you can do, if you feel as inspired as I do about the work that lies ahead, I'm absolutely confident that we're going to look back on this time and say to ourselves this was a moment where we really made a difference. What an extraordinary opportunity that is. I hope all of you seize it. ~ REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENTAND THE VICE PRESIDENT ON TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE - March 3, 2009 [1]

Now, there are a number of things government can do to offer our kids a 21st century education. It can increase Pell Grants and Perkins Loans and simplify financial aid forms. It can establish better standards and assessments in our schools. It can reward teachers who are doing a great job and move bad ones out of the classroom. (Applause.) It can -- it can improve quality in early learning initiatives. It can rebuild our crumbling schools. It can offer all our children a complete and competitive education from cradle to the classroom, from college through a career. That's what government can do. That's what government must do. And that's exactly what we've begun to do, here in Washington, across this country.

And I've said it before and I know I may sound like a broken record, but I'm going to say it again: Government alone cannot get our children to the Promised Land. (Applause.) Government can't put away the PlayStation. Government can't put our kids to bed at a reasonable hour. (Applause.) Government can't attend those parent-teacher conferences. (Applause.) Government can't read a book to your child at night. (Applause.) Government can't help them with their homework. (Applause.) Government can't make sure they leave to school on time. (Applause.) These are things only a mother can do and a father can do. These are things that a parent can do. (Applause.)

We need to accept our responsibilities -- as parents and community leaders. We need to be good role models and encourage excellence in all our children, every last one of them. We need to let them know there are no excuses for not doing your best, every day, all the time, in order to achieve your dreams.

We've got to push our kids to aim higher. I don't want all our kids aspiring to be ballers and rappers. I want them aspiring to be teachers and doctors -- (applause) -- and scientists and engineers. (Applause.) I want them aspiring to be members of Congress and Supreme Court Justices. (Applause.) I want them aspiring to be the President of the United States of America. (Applause.) I want them to have their sights set high. (Applause.)

No excuses for mediocrity. If they come home with a B, don't tell them "that's great." I know some of you all do that. (Laughter.) Tell them to work harder and get an A. Set their sights high. (Applause.) - REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENTAT THE CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS FOUNDATION'S ANNUAL PHOENIX AWARDS DINNER - September 27, 2009 [2]

And I'm looking for partners from government, but this is also an area where government alone can't do it. You've got to be involved. There you go -- this guy right here, he says he's ready to go. You know, for you to think about how are you using energy at home, how are you using energy in your businesses -- are you buying long-lasting lights? Are you installing insulation that saves on your energy bills? All those things cumulatively make a huge difference. ~ Remarks by the President in Town Hall Meeting, University of New Orleans - October 15, 2009 [3]

Now, government can’t create jobs, but it can help create the conditions for small businesses to grow and thrive and hire more workers. Government can’t guarantee a company’s success, but it can knock down the barriers that prevent small business owners from getting loans or investing in the future. And that’s why so much of our economic agenda has been focused on small businesses.

Last year, we enacted seven tax cuts for America’s small businesses, as well as the Making Work Pay tax credit that goes to the vast majority of small business owners. So far, the Recovery Act has supported over 64,000 loans to small businesses – more than $27 billion in new lending. More than 1,200 banks and credit unions that had stopped making SBA loans when the financial crisis hit are lending again today. And more than $8 billion in federal Recovery Act contracts are now going to small businesses. ~ President Obama Calls on Congress to Pass a Small Business Jobs Package -  May 25, 2010  [4]

But understand, we’ve got a different idea about what the future holds. It’s an idea rooted in our belief about how this country was built. We know that the government doesn’t have the answers to all our problems. We believe government should be lean and efficient. But in the words of the first Republican President, Abraham Lincoln -- who, by the way, couldn’t get a nomination in today’s Republican Party -- (laughter) -- we also believe that government should do for the people what they cannot do better for themselves. (Applause.)

We believe in an America that rewards hard work and responsibility and individual initiative, but that also puts a hand up to help people live out their dreams. (Applause.) We believe in an America that invests in its people, in its future, the education of our children, the skills of our workers. We believe in a country where we look after one another, where I am my brother’s keeper, where I am my sister’s keeper. (Applause.) That’s the America that I know. And that is the choice in this election. (Applause.) ~ Remarks by the President at Los Angeles "Moving America Forward" Rally - October 22, 2010  [5]

And they’re not looking for that much -- they’re not asking for that much. They aren’t asking for handouts. They don’t think that government can or should do everything to solve their problems. But they do believe what most of you believe, which is that America should be a place where you can make it if you try. That no matter who you are, where you come from, what circumstances you’re born into, that if you’re willing to put in the work and the effort and you do the right thing, that you can make it. A country where everybody has a fair shake, and everybody does their fair share. That’s what people are looking for. ~ Remarks by the President at a Campaign Event -  October 26, 2011  [6]

So we’ve done a lot over the past three years, but we can do so much more. Today, I’m announcing some new commitments. We’re committing an additional $15 million for the Ryan White Program that supports care provided by HIV medical clinics across the country. We want to keep those doors open so they can keep saving lives. We’re committing an additional $35 million for state AIDS-drug assistance programs.

The federal government can’t do this alone, so I’m also calling on state governments, and pharmaceutical companies, and private foundations to do their part to help Americans get access to all the life-saving treatments.

This is a global fight, and it’s one that America must continue to lead. Looking back at the history of HIV/AIDS, you’ll see that no other country has done more than this country, and that’s testament to our leadership as a country. But we can’t be complacent. ~ Remarks by the President on World AIDS Day - December 1, 2011  [7] 


Updated for bad grammar.