Free Thoughts, Ep. 253: Can we ever downsize government? (with Chris Edwards)

Chris Edwards joins us this week to discuss the politics that goes into attempting to minimize the federal deficit. The Federal Government determines the federal budget, however there is not a balanced-budget requirement, which leads to the growth of the federal deficit. The Federal Government does two main "things" according to Edwards; they produce stuff and they transfer income. Obviously, national defense is one of the main things that the Federal Government produces. If they were to cut that production- it would have an immediate effect on that program. Whereas if you cut from other programs, like those regarding housing, you would cut direct benefits to people.

Over half of the federal budget goes to entitlement programs. Social Security alone has turned into a trillion dollar endeavor. Edwards suggests that if budget cuts were made across the board then it would be perceived as fair to all programs and it would be a step in the right direction.

Why is it difficult for the Federal Government to cut any kind of spending? Why do federal programs always cost more than they are projected to? What is a special interest? Is there ever a point where we should really care about the federal debt? Who lending the U.S. money? Should we have a balanced-budget requirement, if so, how would we enforce it?

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[voluntaryist]

Since I am not forced to buy a product (in the strict sense I am forced to surrender my wealth by the state) I control the producers somewhat when I chose to purchase. I have boycotted most packaged food products for 60 years. At first, I benefited from my choice of organic foods but I didn't stop the production of unhealthy (conventional) foodstuffs. But now, at 75, I have more healthy choices because slowly I was joined by others. Producers of food I did not buy have gone out of business and new healthier foods are offered. I was a part of that change because I was free to choose.

Am I free to choose if I should give money to govt.? NO! My money is taken by force, threat. Do I choose how much? NO! Do I choose how it is spent? No, but at this point what difference does it make? I don't care how it is spent. I only care that it was stolen. I can't be appeased by those so-called libertarians that try to justify the theft by how the money is spent or that less is stolen or less might be stolen because of their efforts. I only focus on the fact that money is taken by force and no net good can come of it, ever. I focus on that fact by not accepting theft temporarily, as if that were a practical way to stop it. It isn't. I knew it but had to have it proven the hard way after working 5 years in the LP (1975-80).

Others still choose to eat fast food but they don't force their choice on me. They choose to pay taxes/fees, call it "voluntary" and force it on me. They call this "living in a free country". They obey irrational, unfair, destructive, abusive laws/regulations and complain like hell about it, but claim it's unavoidable. They call this "order" and claim a voluntary society would be chaos. Why? They can't explain, but they "know it" and will force it on me at gunpoint or support those who they authorize to force me. They sent off their children to die/kill in foreign invasion of sovereign nations but would be outraged it any nation invaded or attacked their sovereign nation. Why? The govt. is in charge. They leave those decisions to it. They could choose to decide, but that would be chaos and the govt. has assured them since childhood in forced attendance rooms that order comes from forfeiting their sovereignty to rulers. The govt. doesn't care who rules, as long as someone dictates to the rest. Why? That's "order". Public choice would be "chaos", except when the public chooses to have others choose for them. Then, it's order. Why? Because elite control is the only way to have order. Without elite control, the pubic would be out of control and that would be chaos. The vote, the right to choose who will control you is "order". How do we know it? Our rulers tell us so.

[xxcrysadxx]

What human social system doesn't rely on coercion of some kind to continue its existence? Taxation is coercion... okay, fine. But so is being born and having a landlord tell you to start working or he'll remove you from his property. Welcome to human existence. Here's the rulebook.