After reading about the 2011 proposed budget of $3.83 trillion, it seems like an appropriate time to re-post this:

3.6 TRILLION?

I did the math: the 2010 U.S. budget ($3,600,000,000,000.00) isapproximately $12,000 per person. So, for a family of five like mine,the U.S. government will spend $60,000 in 2010. So, the question is, ifthe government weren't around, could I get the services they provide(the ones I use) for less than $60,000? I know this is a simplifiedview of things because some services are provided by state, city, andlocal governments, but let's assume it all comes from one place.Private school tuition (for grade school) is between $9000 and $15000per child per year. SoI'd have to pay $10K or so for each of my two youngest daughters to goto school. My older daughter's at a public University, so let's figure$20,000 for that. That's roughly $40,000 I'd have to pay for educationalone. Now, figure in the cost of roads. Based on what you pay to driveon a toll road, I'd say if roads were all privatized, you might end uppaying about 50 cents per mile. I only drive about 15,000 miles a year,so lets be liberal and say $10,000 for roads, which should also coverthe costs of railroads, airports, seaports, and interstates requiredfor bringing me food and merchandise.

I guess I'd have to pay alittle extra for mail. I suppose I'd have to chip in some money forsome sort of armed forces to protect my home and family from foreignerswho want to take my land and kill me, and more still for some basicpolice, fire, and paramedic services.. I guess I'd pay at least as muchfor that as I pay for health or auto insurance, so add in another $5000a year. I suppose that without the government I might have to help outpeople without jobs if I didn't want them dying in the streets. I'dalso want to pay someone to protect the environment from those whomight wish to harm it, and I'd pay someone else to make sure my foodand medicine is safe. I'm a big fan of parks and open spaces, so I'dpay some more to make sure I had plenty of that in my area, and that itwas well-maintained, etc. I guess I'd also want to pay someone to keepan eye on the banks and other financial institutions to make sure theydidn't steal my money.

I guess it looks like $60,000 might justbe a bargain. Of course, I'm not paying $60,000 -- the government is --which is to say, the taxpayers are. Anyhow, $3,600,000,000,000.00 is areal big number, but so is 300,000,000 which is the number of people inthis country. Personally I'm glad the government is doing all thisstuff for me. If the government wasn't doing it, someone else would be,and guess what? they'd probably be more corrupt than politicians.