[templar]

Is government larger or smaller since Bush took office? Are there more laws and regulations affecting my life, and the choices I make, or less? Are there more government agencies or less? Are there more cabinet level departments or less? Is there more government surveilance of my activities or less? Is the Federal deficit larger of smaller? Is overall spending by the Federal government up or down? Is the Federal government more involved in the control of the banking and financial systems or less? Do I have more freedom, more liberty, or less? How many government programs have been abolished? Are question like these considered conservative any more? Has conservatism really only become a debate about the nature and administration of socialist programs?

[Consort]

Are question like these considered conservative any more?

They are good questions and you are right to ask them. However, their intended impact and significance are becoming diluted and blunted, unfortunately, by the Perpetually Disgruntled and Eternally Disenchanted who use them to attack rather than to persuade and, consequently, they are in danger or becoming trite, IMO.

[spodefly]

Is government larger or smaller since Bush took office? Are there more laws and regulations affecting my life, and the choices I make, or less? Are there more government agencies or less? Are there more cabinet level departments or less? Is there more government surveilance of my activities or less? Is the Federal deficit larger of smaller? Is overall spending by the Federal government up or down? Is the Federal government more involved in the control of the banking and financial systems or less? Do I have more freedom, more liberty, or less? How many government programs have been abolished? Are question like these considered conservative any more? Has conservatism really only become a debate about the nature and administration of socialist programs?

BUMP.

[alnick]

Is there more government surveilance of my activities or less?

It's pretty safe to assume that the level of government surveillance of your activities has remained the same -- zero.