There is no doubt that the federal government is FAR too big.
In 1800, the government needed a mere 3,000 employees and $1 million a year to do its job. In those days, lawmakers knew well the meaning of “limited.”
Today, federal civilian employees number nearly 2 million. Another 10 million or more are federal contractors or grant recipients. The yearly budget of this runaway train is soaring toward $3 trillion. The behemoth could use a multiple bureau-ectomy.
Now, there is an expectation that this fall, it will come to a screeching halt as a battle over the budget rages between Bush and Congress. While that may be hard to believe considering Bush’s inability to veto a spending bill, more and more people say it will happen.
Investor’s Business Daily, and I, say good. As a matter of fact, let’s make part of this shut down permanent:
Start with the Education Department, created in 1979 by the Carter administration despite the fact there is no constitutional authorization for its existence.
In addition to its meddling, the department is spending nearly $70 billion a year in taxpayers’ dollars. By all accounts, public education in this country is worse off than it was when the Education Department opened. It’s hard to make an argument that those 5,000 employees are contributing anything.
Next on the block should be the Energy Department…
The article fires a few more unnecessary federal employees and I say, “Good riddance.” No more of my tax dollars need to help pay for another “Piss Christ.”
