By Jeff J. Horn – Divorce Attorney
The future of government is a pressing question. Government is at the center of family law in Ocean County. Family law comprises statutes, rules, and case law. Its purpose is to serve both individuals and society as a whole. Government must provide opportunities for success and address structural barriers that create inequalities. Rather than favoring certain groups, it should be a “hand up, not a handout.” Empowering leaders and doers enhances everyone’s quality of life.
Envisioning a Big Future for Families
I envision a big future for my family, friends, and all New Jerseyans and Americans. However, an unchecked desire for a larger piece of the pie cannot be sustained. As Elon Musk emphasizes, government’s role is not to create things but to serve the people’s big future. This means ensuring excellent healthcare, affordable living, safety, and peace of mind for seniors, while offering businesses an exceptional infrastructure and fairness in regulations and courts. Likewise, the government’s big future must ensure efficient and fair application of family law.
To build confidence in our communities, the government should guarantee that investing in them leads to fair outcomes. High-quality schools must keep pace with the past. Parents should trust that their children are safe when they step outside. Government’s big future lies in creating a conducive environment for success and stepping away from the pockets of businesses and citizens. As Thomas Edison once said, if we unleash our capabilities, we can astound ourselves. Managing government spending is crucial in achieving this vision.
Reflecting on Government Growth in Family Law
In his 1996 State of the Union speech to Congress, President Bill Clinton declared that “The era of big government is over.” People went wild. But was it true?
When President Clinton made that announcement:
- The annual federal budget was $1.56 trillion.
- New Jersey’s state budget was $16 billion.
- The federal national debt was $5.22 trillion.
- New Jersey’s state debt was around $25 billion.
- New Jersey’s local government debt was around $18 billion.
Government Budgets: Then and Now
Fast-forward to 2023:
- The annual federal budget was $6.27 trillion for FY2022.
- New Jersey’s state budget is $50.6 billion.
- The federal national debt was $31.46 trillion.
- New Jersey’s state debt is $212 billion.
- New Jersey’s local government debt was around $40 billion.
Understanding the Numbers in Family Law
What do all of these numbers mean to me?
The big question is whether the government can have a big future. The notion of government is to serve the people collectively and individually. It must provide opportunities for success. Where structural barriers favor one person or group over another, government has a role in implementing a remedy. Like the motto that animates Habitat for Humanity, government should be more of a “Hand up, Not a Handout.” It should not pick winners but propel the leaders and doers who improve the quality of life for everyone.
Crafting a Vision for a Big Future
I want a big future for my family, friends, and all New Jerseyans, all Americans. Left to its own devices, the government always wants a bigger slice of the pie. However, that approach cannot continue forever. As Elon Musk says, “If you don’t make stuff, there is no stuff.” Government is not here to make stuff.
Serving the Big Future of the People
For the government to have a big future, it must serve the big future of the people. As for our seniors, it means excellent healthcare, affordable living, safety, and peace of mind. For our businesses, it means an outstanding infrastructure system, fairness in regulatory agencies, and in the courts. For our families, the government needs to build confidence that an investment in their community will result in a fair shake. Those excellent schools that propelled the generations before must keep up. When your children go out the door, you should feel confident that the community and your governmental officials will be aligned in keeping them safe.
Creating a Successful Environment in Family Law
Government’s big future hinges on creating an environment for success and then getting out of the way. This means getting out of the pocketbooks of our businesses and our individual citizens. A famous New Jerseyan said it best: “If we all did the things we are capable of doing, we would literally astound ourselves.” – Thomas Edison. I believe in our ability to “astound ourselves.” Managing the geometry of government spending must be a key component of the equation. The hallmark of fairness in family law in Ocean County is the combination of marshalling the resources of government to achieve optimal results for litigants and children. Family lawyers play a crucial role in navigating these complexities to ensure fair outcomes.
Thanks to Horn Law Group, LLC interns Noah Hilsdorf and Dillon Uhrig.