From the final section of CH 16 of your text: "There is no question that government must be involved in both the provision of public goods and the control of externalities. No society has ever existed in which citizens did not get together to protect themselves from the abuses of an unrestrained market and to provide for themselves certain goods and services that the market did not provide. The question is not whether we need government involvement. The question is how much and what kind of government involvement we should have."

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/07/should-we- create-jobs- or- balance-the- budget/?emc=eta1

Even though this is "old news", the debate reflects the differing point of view between the two major parties on the role of government. The tensions outlined in this conversation persist and are often the subject of campaign rhetoric. Let's recycle for the recent election and consider what you think will be best for the country.

Please follow the above link to a "conversation" between 2 columnists from the New York Times. Be sure to also read the reader comments that follow and then offer your own in response. Take and defend a position. This is just one example of many that highlight the potential role of government in the economy. Others that come easily to mind are universal health care & financial reform. What other examples can you offer for discussion?