A burden that would shock the average medieval serf would be more bearable if Americans were getting good value for their money. But the budget today reflects organized looting on a vast scale. Profitable businesses collect subsidies to invest overseas. Prosperous elderly cash checks from the young. Farmers bank subsidies to grow crops no one needs.
Interest groups get grants to advance their partisan agendas.
Voters enjoy the best pork their representatives can deliver. In contrast, programs of genuine national need are few and far between. Even those with worthy intentions, such as poverty relief, often backfire. The only serious tax cutter on the Republican side was Steve Forbes. A proponent of a 17 percent flat tax rate, he would have both lowered the tax burden and restructured the tax system.