With President-elect Trump’s arrival in the Executive Branch, perhaps it’s time to step back and think about the role of government. If we agree on the role, we can better debate from the left and right how this role is best carried out. Free markets have many advantages, but also offer some real pitfalls. The government’s role stems from the self-serving interest of market participants – companies and consumers alike. This greed is good: it leads to innovation, wealth creation, productivity, striving to improve, and many other positives propelling our economy and society forward. But what is best for the individual or family is not necessarily best for the nation, hence the role of government. What are the big things that markets can’t carry out well on their own? They cannot set laws or ensure their just enforcement. In fact, a comprehensive legal…