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Mr. Speaker, I once again find myself compelled to vote against the annual budget resolution for a very simple reason: it makes government bigger. [...] We need to understand that the more government spends, the more freedom is lost. Instead of simply debating spending levels, we ought to be debating whether the departments, agencies, and programs funded by the budget should exist at all. My Republican colleagues especially ought to know this. Unfortunately, however, the GOP has decided to abandon principle and pander to the entitlements crowd. But this approach will backfire, because Democrats will always offer to spend even more than Republicans. When Republicans offer to spend $500 billion on Medicare, Democrats will offer $600 billion. Why not? It's all funny money anyway, and it helps them get reelected. [...] The increases in domestic, foreign, and military spending would not be needed if Congress stopped trying to build an empire abroad and a nanny state at home.

Ron Paul#57

PoliticsPolicyFreedomBudgetGovernment size

About this quote

What does it mean?
Paul argues that larger government spending reduces freedom and that budget debates should question the existence of agencies, not just their budgets.
In plain terms
More government spending shrinks liberty; we should ask if agencies should exist at all.
What can you take from it?
Scrutinize the necessity of government programs, not just their cost.

Where it applies

  • legislative hearings
  • public policy review

Putting it to work

  • audit agency effectiveness
  • promote smaller government

Questions to consider

  • Do all agencies add value?
  • How does spending affect personal freedom?

Another view

Some services provide public goods that may not be efficiently delivered by the private sector.

More from Ron Paul

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  2. When the federal government spends more each year than it collects in tax revenues, it has three choices: It can raise taxes, print money, or borrow money. Whi…

    Permalink to quote #58
  3. A paper monetary standard means there are no restraints on the printing press or on federal deficits. In 1971, M3 was $776 billion; today it stands at $8.9 tri…

    Permalink to quote #55

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