Size of Government

The Kentucky And Virginia Resolutions
Guideposts of Limited Government

By William J. Watkins, Jr.

In 1885 Woodrow Wilson noted that criticism of the Constitution had ceased upon its adoption and "an undiscriminating and almost blind worship of its principles" had developed (Wilson 1885, 4). A survey of American political discourse after the Constitution's ratification reveals that its provisions were often quoted in such a manner as a minister would quote the Gospel. Considering that the history of Anglo-American liberty is, in many respects, a history of great charters and the events leading to their adoption, American reverence for the Constitution is not surprising (see Brooks 1993). Of course, the Constitution is not the only document in the pantheon.
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The Virginia Report Of 1799-1800

Touching The Alien And Sedition Laws; Together With The Virginia Resolutions Of December 21, 1798, The Debate And Proceedings Thereon In The House Of Delegates Of Virginia, And Several Other Documents Illustrative Of The Report And Resolutions...
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Virginia Resolution Of 1798

RESOLVED, That the General Assembly of Virginia, doth unequivocably express a firm resolution to maintain and defend the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of this State, against every aggression either foreign or domestic, and that they will support the government of the United States in all measures warranted by the former.
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The Kentucky Resolutions Of 1798

Resolved, That the several States composing, the United States of America, are not united on the principle of unlimited submission to their general government; but that, by a compact under the style and title of a Constitution for the United States, and of amendments thereto, they constituted a general government for special purposes — delegated to that government certain definite powers, reserving, each State to itself, the residuary mass of right to their own self-government...
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Kentucky Resolution Of 1799

THE representatives of the good people of this commonwealth in general assembly convened, having maturely considered the answers of sundry states in the Union, to their resolutions passed at the last session, respecting certain unconstitutional laws of Congress, commonly called the alien and sedition laws, would be faithless indeed to themselves, and to those they represent, were they silently to acquiesce in principles and doctrines attempted to be maintained in all those answers, that of Virginia only excepted. To again enter the field of argument, and attempt more fully or forcibly to expose the unconstitutionality of those obnoxious laws, would, it is apprehended be as unnecessary as unavailing...
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The Leviathan Project

By Dr. Lawrence Hunter
September 30, 2008


This proposal sketches out a new paradigm for understanding the debilitating nature of government grown too large. The Leviathan Project proposed here would comprise a multifaceted, multiphase program of research, public education and political advocacy to address two general questions: 
1) What is the optimal (“right”) size of government at which social wellbeing is maximized?
2) How can the uncontrolled growth of government be arrested and reversed to achieve and maintain government at the optimum level to further the general welfare? Read More...




The Impact Of Government Spending On Economic Growth

By Daniel J. Mitchell, Ph.D.
March 15, 2005

Policymakers are divided as to whether government expansion helps or hinders economic growth. Advo¬cates of bigger government argue that government programs provide valuable “public goods” such as education and infrastructure. They also claim that increases in government spending can bolster eco¬nomic growth by putting money into people’s pockets. Read More...
 

Times247.com Poll

<a href="http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/should-members-of-congress-be-forced-to-return-profits-derived-from-deals-that-involved-insider-info/question-2298229/" title="Should members of Congress be forced to return profits derived from deals that involved insider information and where should the money go?">Should members of Congress be forced to return profits derived from deals that involved insider information and where should the money go?</a>

Recent News

UK Raises Tax Rates and Revenues Decline

Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Source: The Telegraph
After the UK raised the top income tax rate to 50 percent, the amount of income tax paid fell sharply last month in the first formal indication that the new 50 percent higher rate is not raising the expected amount of revenue but in fact is losing revenue.
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Doc pay fixes snowball, making Medicare all the harder to reform

Sunday, January 1, 2012
Source: Awesome Capital
The 1997 scheme to make supposedly automatic cuts in Medicare doctor fees based on what looked like a reasonable index has totally failed. Sooner or later, Congress will have to try something different if it doesn't want to bankrupt Medicare or jack up taxes to keep the program afloat. A real alternative to top-down cost control is a system giving consumers influence over costs and rewards for keeping costs low.
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Cancer drug reverses Alzheimer’s in mice

Thursday, February 9, 2012
Source: Raw Story
 A widely available cancer drug has shown remarkable success in reversing Alzheimer’s disease in mice, raising hope of a breakthrough against incurable dementia in humans, US researchers said Thursday.
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Rep. Bachus faces insider-trading investigation

Friday, February 10, 2012
The Office of Congressional Ethics is investigating the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee over possible violations of insider-trading laws.
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UK says elderly are “wasting" too many bedrooms

Sunday, February 5, 2012
In yet another outrageous piece of social engineering from the British government, pensioners will be encouraged to downsize to smaller properties allowing local government councils to rent their homes out as public housing and manage the tenancy.
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Federal Employee Gravy Train

Monday, January 30, 2012
Federal workers earn 16 percent more in total compensation — including wages and benefits — than comparable private-sector employees, according to the Congressional Budget Office. The key difference is in benefits, where federal workers average more than $20 per hour in compensation — 48 percent higher than the $13.60 in prorated hourly benefits in the private sector.
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Ind. Lawmakers: "Pee Test For Thee But Not For Me"

Friday, January 27, 2012
Source: Huffington Post
A member of the Indiana General Assembly withdrew his bill to create a pilot program for drug testing welfare applicants Friday after one of his colleagues amended the measure to require drug testing for lawmakers.
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America, arms-dealer to the world

Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Source: Salon.com
Retired lieutenant colonel's take on the military-industrial complex:  As a country, we seem to have a teenager’s fascination with military hardware, an addiction that’s driving us to bust our own national budgetary allowance. At the same time, we sell weapons the way teenage punks sell fireworks to younger kids: for profit and with little regard for how they might be used.
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Still Convinced Tax Increases Work?

Thursday, January 19, 2012
Source: CBSChicago.com
After largest tax increase in Illinois' history, the state still can't pay its bills. Only solution is to cut government spending says state comptroller.
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GOP Voters Split On Interventionism

Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Nearly half of all Republican primary voters say it’s time the U.S. stops intervening in world affairs and focuses on domestic priorities instead, signaling a persistent rift that is playing out in the party’s presidential nomination battle.
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