A big problem with reining in government's grotesque spending is that to the average taxpayer, the exact conscription of wealth isn't fully realized. There's no clear "impact" of the cost of government's growing greed -- which incidentally is no accident.
Allow us to provide just two measures:
- This year it took John Q. Taxpayer 86.5 workdays to pay for federal government spending, up from 78.5 days in 2000, according to Americans for Tax Relief. That's more than a 10 percent increase. Add state and local taxes, and the average American works more than half a year (until July 12) just to meet his tax obligation.
- The average family of four in Pennsylvania will pay $8,400 to cover just the state's General Fund budget in 2006-07, a 26.2 percent increase in four years, according to an analysis by Matthew J. Brouillette of the Commonwealth Foundation. Meanwhile, the state saw excess tax revenues reach nearly $1 billion for the fiscal year ending June 30. And that money is already spent.
In total, the state's $55 billion in spending this fiscal year will cost the same family the equivalent of a monthly mortgage on a $233,000 home, Mr. Brouillette says. How much can you afford to pay -- minus government's take -- for your domicile?
Make no mistake. This is your money. But unfortunately, this is also your government. Its many wheels are greased to excess, abetted by taxpayers' ignorance.
