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About this quote

What does it mean?
Government was once smaller, safer, and fiscally responsible compared to today.
In plain terms
In the past, taxes were lower, budgets balanced, and streets were safer.
What can you take from it?
Compare past government performance to current conditions.

Where it applies

  • political history
  • budget analysis
  • social commentary

Putting it to work

  • review historical budgets
  • compare tax rates
  • study safety trends

Questions to consider

  • Has government grown too large?
  • What lessons does history offer?

Another view

Historical comparisons often overlook complexities of different eras.

More from Harry Browne

  1. Not only can no one predict the future, we don't understand the present - and there isn't even any certainty about the past.

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  2. Republicans campaign like Libertarians and govern like Democrats.

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  3. [Medicare] was created in 1965 to make it easier for the elderly to get health care. But by reducing the patient's out-of-pocket costs, it increased the demand…

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