There are very few instances where “working for the greater good” has actually led to “the greater good.”

Take for instance, the massive spending deficits by the U.S. government. The deficit spending was supposed to help us get out of the recession, which was caused by a government policy to force banks to lend to “underserved” borrowers. You know, take on debt.

But deficit spending has not lead to a “normal” economic recovery. The path of the current recovery is not even half of what would be expected from the average of all recoveries since WW II. By this time, in any other recovery, over half the jobs lost would have been regained.

Yet our representatives and academics and government continue on a self-destructive path of believing that more spending is the right way to go.

Wonder why gas and oil prices are so high? Why food is more expensive? Why clothing is more costly? And ironically, why the value of your house is still going down? Look no further than government policy and government spending.

Huge deficit spending, massive borrowing and printing-press policies are the causes driving up prices of oil, food and clothing. Adding to that is the policy of dropping the value of the dollar, which has several perverse effects.

In the investing world, this leads to all kinds of weird things, like gold being called an investment. It isn’t. Gold does not pay interest, or dividends, or rent. It is shinny and all, but all the gold in the world cannot grow anything, or build anything, or pay for anyone’s hospital bills, only dollars can.

When the government pursues a policy of driving down the value of the dollar, you have to work harder, and longer to pay for the same amount of gas, food and clothing. Not to mention save for retirement, college, or even a vacation.

Blame people like Paul Krugman and Treasury Secretary Tim Geitner (advisers to President Obama) who say, “The dollar is the global reserve currency. It is different. What has happened to countries like Greece, Ireland and Spain can’t happen here.”

Oh really? I guess that is what this week’s negative credit warning from Standard & Poors was all about? That the Democrats and President Obama are doing a great job coming up with definite plans to reduce the deficit and debt? Not!

Nice of them to take on more debt for us, without even voting on a budget. Great leadership, Congress and Mr. President.

You can see the same attitude right here in Maine, in a place called Augusta. There you will find some people who believe driving up your costs — increasing spending, regulation and taxes — are good things.

Some at the State House believe that oil is our worst addiction, but it isn’t. It is spending.

Spending is addictive. It makes them popular. It doesn’t make them smart. Being popular, because of spending, leads them to borrowing, to keep up the spending. And borrowing leads to debt.

Debt has the power to destroy more than it creates, even when used by very smart people. This destructive power can cause poverty. The Great Depression is the ultimate example.

Some people, who used to be in power in Augusta, think increasing spending and debt without your approval, and without your knowledge, is “just good government; just smart.”

The Democrats had ruled in Augusta for more than 40 years. They have created a structure: spending for a set of programs, public relations firms and lobbying groups to retain power.

One of the most powerful groups in Augusta is the Natural Resources Council of Maine. These are the people who have helped drive up electricity rates and regulatory hurdles.

At their doorstep can be laid over 5,000 lost jobs in manufacturing, tourism and real estate. And the loss of thousands of opportunities that would otherwise have come here, but for the matrix of regulations and fees they imposed on Maine “for the greater good.”

It is revealing that these people, who dedicate themselves to “protecting the nature of Maine,” have their headquarters less than a block from the State House. Not near the mountains or rivers. Manipulating and harnessing the power of the law is what they love, not nature.

They have been called, “The greatest impediment to a rational discussion of reasonable policies for the state of Maine.” I agree.

I don’t mind taking on debts that I can afford, but I do resent having debts placed on my children and my grandchildren just to gratify some politician’s or lobbyist’s self-serving idea of  “the greater good,” protecting the environment, or power, or fiefdom.

I’ve got news for those who believe in government spending and debt: There is no “greater good” in poverty.

J. Dwight is a SEC-registered investment adviser and an advisory board member of the Maine Heritage Policy Center. He lives in Wilton. Email [email protected].