Eight Reasons Why Big Government Hurts Economic Growth

This Center for Freedom and Prosperity Foundation video analyzes how excessive government spending undermines economic performance. While acknowledging that a very modest level of government spending on things such as "public goods" can facilitate growth, the video outlines eight different ways that that big government hinders prosperity. This video focuses on theory and will be augmented by a second video looking at the empirical evidence favoring smaller government.

[TheObjectiveReality]

As usual, Dan Mitchel hits the nail on the head. Someone please elect this guy so he can fix our problems.

[hydrolito]

Some printing of money is necessary but excessive money printing devalues what money you have.

[Onmetube]

" The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government, and I'm here to help" - Ronald Reagan, 1986

[firemedicca]

@armeg35 Yes they pay higher taxes. One of my good friends lives in England. They take about 45% of his wages. In return, free health care, free college education. Here in the US, the government take between 30-35% of my pay, i then fork out $600 a month for health ins on a family of 6 that doesnt cover shit. I cant even imagine what an education will cost for my kids. Tht extra 10% they take in europe, roughly 400 in terms of my pay, goes drastically farther then paying for benefits here.

[kevron]

What about funding Protectionism as well?

[toyz]

Displacement = WRONG! If the government taxes to receive money and it then spends that money, the money spent is paid to workers, who act within the economy. Therefore, not only do we (as citizens) gain the thing that money is spent on, like bridges, but the construction workers gain money that they spend as private citizens.

[hydrolito]

45% of his wages is not free. Probably hire with other hidden taxes. We also often pay more than 30-35% to taxes due to sales tax, licenses, tax on gas, utility tax, business taxes, etc.

[epatl]

Nomadic,

All you are saying is that government does a poor job of responding to market conditions. This is exactly why it is an inefficient provider of goods and services.

[robertquentincobb]

Dan Mitchell for PRESIDENT! Please vote for this guy.

[Chooooty]

so are you saying we need to be taxed more?

[studentofsmith]

@dodate Actually if that money wasn't spent on the military it could be spent on other things, creating jobs in those sectors. Shifting defense spending to other programs would mean a reallocation of jobs but no net job losses. Check out the "broken window fallacy" for a more detailed explanation of this argument.

[ForTehNguyen]

if you mean doing things better like stifling economic growth then yes

[hydrolito]

The government helps when your house catches on fire, or a murderer is on the loose. So people from the government do help.

[Chooooty]

so you are saying the government needs to tax people more?

[httm]

@teapartyxpress Big government is when the federal government gets a boob Implant

[Thoralmir]

I believe in no God, no invisible man in the sky. But there is something more powerful in each of us, a combination of our efforts, a great chain of industry that unites us. But it is only when we struggle in our own interests that the chain pulls society in the right direction. The chain is too powerful and too mysterious for any government to guide. Any man who tells you differently either has his hand in your pocket or a pistol to your neck.

[reddranger]

@turisas1234 yeah, but sadly, theres a LOT of of people with that mentality in this country

[hydrolito]

I'm an Atheist so what does being unchristian have to do with anything? You give all the power to the government you end up as a slave so limiting the size of the government is important that was why they had a bill of rights showing government was to be limited in it's power.

[RevoltorAdapt]

The Dollar is worth four cents, know why ? The Federal Reserve is a Private Bank. It's not Federal.

[hydrolito]

Speed limit is to decrease the chance of getting killed, lines in road tell you what lane your in how would you do a 6 lane highway with no lines in the road. Traffic lights allow an efficient flow of traffic other wise would take long time to get through intersections always having to wait for someone else. Drivers license is to make sure people actually know how to drive before they get on the road to prevent accidents. You want to live like India go ahead and move there.