Cost of Government day in 2008: July 16

[Little-Acorn]

Are we getting to the point where we can no longer afford our government?

---------------------------------------------------------

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/Conten...x?rsrcid=32583

Cost of Govt. Day in 2008: July 16

Friday, July 18, 2008
By Keriann Hopkins, Correspondent

“Not surprisingly, Cost of Government Day continues to move away from Independence Day and closer to Halloween.”Washington (CNSNews.com) – July 16 was Cost of Government Day – that day of the year when average Americans finish paying off their share of federal, state, and local taxes and the cost of complying with regulations.

“Finally, starting today, you are working for yourself and no longer for Uncle Sam,” said Brian Riedl, senior policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

This year, Cost of Government Day occurred four days later than last year because of increasing tax burdens, but also higher regulatory costs, according to Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), which released its annual Cost of Government Day report at a Washington news conference on Wednesday.

“All the regulations the government imposes ... none of them are free. They cost resources. And sometimes you don’t have to send a dollar to Washington ... in order to lose it – you just have to pay a higher price for a car, or a house, or a consumer product because of a regulatory cost,” said ATR President Grover Norquist.

The report, calculated by ATR’s Center for Fiscal Accountability, takes into account the total spending burden as a percentage of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), coupled with the cost of complying with government regulations.

Norquist said the average American worked:

-- 84 days to fund federal spending
-- 50 days to pay for state and local spending
-- 42 days to cover federal regulation
-- 21 days to pay for state/local regulation

Combined, on average, Americans worked 197 days -- 54 percent of the year -- to pay their share of the cost of government, he said.

[Nukeman]

Are we getting to the point where we can no longer afford our government?

---------------------------------------------------------

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/Conten...x?rsrcid=32583

Cost of Govt. Day in 2008: July 16

Friday, July 18, 2008
By Keriann Hopkins, Correspondent

“Not surprisingly, Cost of Government Day continues to move away from Independence Day and closer to Halloween.”Washington (CNSNews.com) – July 16 was Cost of Government Day – that day of the year when average Americans finish paying off their share of federal, state, and local taxes and the cost of complying with regulations.

“Finally, starting today, you are working for yourself and no longer for Uncle Sam,” said Brian Riedl, senior policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

This year, Cost of Government Day occurred four days later than last year because of increasing tax burdens, but also higher regulatory costs, according to Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), which released its annual Cost of Government Day report at a Washington news conference on Wednesday.

“All the regulations the government imposes ... none of them are free. They cost resources. And sometimes you don’t have to send a dollar to Washington ... in order to lose it – you just have to pay a higher price for a car, or a house, or a consumer product because of a regulatory cost,” said ATR President Grover Norquist.

The report, calculated by ATR’s Center for Fiscal Accountability, takes into account the total spending burden as a percentage of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), coupled with the cost of complying with government regulations.

Norquist said the average American worked:

-- 84 days to fund federal spending
-- 50 days to pay for state and local spending
-- 42 days to cover federal regulation
-- 21 days to pay for state/local regulation

Combined, on average, Americans worked 197 days -- 54 percent of the year -- to pay their share of the cost of government, he said.

Hey the teachers out there aren't paying their fair share. they only work 180 days a year!!!!!!!

[Little-Acorn]

Hey the teachers out there aren't paying their fair share. they only work 180 days a year!!!!!!!

How many days out of the year do Congressmen actually work?

When they're not actually in the Capitol building, are they still on call 24/7 like the President is?

[emmett]

Are we getting to the point where we can no longer afford our government?

---------------------------------------------------------

http://www.cnsnews.com/public/Conten...x?rsrcid=32583

Cost of Govt. Day in 2008: July 16

Friday, July 18, 2008
By Keriann Hopkins, Correspondent

“Not surprisingly, Cost of Government Day continues to move away from Independence Day and closer to Halloween.”Washington (CNSNews.com) – July 16 was Cost of Government Day – that day of the year when average Americans finish paying off their share of federal, state, and local taxes and the cost of complying with regulations.

“Finally, starting today, you are working for yourself and no longer for Uncle Sam,” said Brian Riedl, senior policy analyst at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

This year, Cost of Government Day occurred four days later than last year because of increasing tax burdens, but also higher regulatory costs, according to Americans for Tax Reform (ATR), which released its annual Cost of Government Day report at a Washington news conference on Wednesday.

“All the regulations the government imposes ... none of them are free. They cost resources. And sometimes you don’t have to send a dollar to Washington ... in order to lose it – you just have to pay a higher price for a car, or a house, or a consumer product because of a regulatory cost,” said ATR President Grover Norquist.

The report, calculated by ATR’s Center for Fiscal Accountability, takes into account the total spending burden as a percentage of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), coupled with the cost of complying with government regulations.

Norquist said the average American worked:

-- 84 days to fund federal spending
-- 50 days to pay for state and local spending
-- 42 days to cover federal regulation
-- 21 days to pay for state/local regulation

Combined, on average, Americans worked 197 days -- 54 percent of the year -- to pay their share of the cost of government, he said.

If the flat tax were enacted at 22% across the board for everyone, April 23rd would be Cost of government day. For tax paying citizens that is a savings of three months of their lives a year. A 15% retirement account savings would bring total to 37%, a little over a third of income. This is entirely too much money to put in the hands of Americans. That would send an electro shock through the enonomy and leave no way for the socialists to scare the hell out of people. They woulod then have to adopt a civil liberty platform or something. LOL, I can see Harry Byrd and Wayne LaPiere out to lunch together.

[Nukeman]

How many days out of the year do Congressmen actually work?

When they're not actually in the Capitol building, are they still on call 24/7 like the President is?

Ummmm.... Dude, it was a joke...... sort of!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hobbit]

How about we just adopt the FairTax so things like 'The Cost of Government Day' aren't necessary to bring it to the attention of people that the government likes to waste your money. Every time you buy something, the amount you paid in taxes would be right there on the receipt in black and white. This thing isn't going to stop until the people realize how much they're really being ripped off. Of course, I think the only way anybody will realize that under this current withdrawal scam they're running now is to approach them on April 15 with a pile of cash equivalent to what they paid in income tax, and then divide it into piles based on what it's spend on.