The Christmas season is known for displays of decorative lights, among other things. Last year, a budget crunch in one city in Michigan was an opportunity to ask what functions need to be performed by government.

The Mackinac Center for Public Policy observed that the private sector stepped in when the City of Livonia had a budget gap on its hand. One measure it took: not putting up official Christmas lights.

Good for Livonia, Jack McHugh observed after some businesses stepped in. "There are certainly legitimate roles for government action, such as national defense and law enforcement. But there is every reason to believe that many of the functions handed over to government in the past century -- Christmas decoration being one among many -- can be safely placed back into the hands of voluntary institutions."