Washington's Ten Thousand Commandments

IBD Editorials ^ | 24 June 2007 | CLYDE WAYNE CREWS JR.

[Kitten Festival]

Congress is currently considering the president's proposed $2.9 trillion federal budget. While federal spending consumes an awesome 20% of nation's GDP, the budget process at least allows taxpayers to know on what Washington is spending.

But there is much more to government's reach in the economy than direct spending. The costs to the public of complying with federal health, safety, environmental and economic regulations appear nowhere in the federal budget.

Economist Mark Crain's research for the U.S. Small Business Administration finds that in 2006 regulatory compliance cost Americans $1.14 trillion. Astoundingly, that approaches half of last year's total federal spending of $2.6 trillion, and exceeds 9% of U.S. GDP — and tops Canada's $1 trillion GDP.

Combining regulation and spending, the federal government's share of the economy is a whopping 29%.

[Kitten Festival]

The greedy hand of government never stops.

[RoadGumby]

And Never retreats

[LambSlave]

Imagine how dangerous life would be without our government protecting us from all these hidden dangers. Now just shut up and pay your taxes like a good boy/girl!! /EXTREME SARCASM

[dr_who_2]

The hand of government doesn’t just steal. It also bribes.