Cost of Government Day 2007


If you are a fiscal conservative, this data and chart will drive you insane.

[i]Cost of Government Day (COGD) is the date of the calendar year on which the average American worker has earned enough gross income to pay off his or her share of spending and regulatory burdens imposed by government on the federal, state and local levels.

Cost of Government Day 2007
Cost of Government Day for 2007 is July 11th. With July 11th as the COGD, working people must toil on average 192 days out of the year just to meet all the costs imposed by government. [u]In other words, the cost of government consumes 52.6 percent of national income.[/u]

Cost of Government: Trends
Cost of Government Day falls two days later in 2007 than last year�??s revised date of July 9th. In 2007, the average American will need to work an additional 11 days out of the year to pay off his or her cost of government compared to 2000. Slower economic growth, a recession, the war, Hurricane Katrina, increased spending and corporate scandals were responsible for the dramatic increase from June 29th in 2000 to as high as July 12th in 2005.

Consistent with historical changes in the index, as the economy expanded, the cost of government declined due to lower levels of spending and higher incomes of workers. However, the drop in the cost of government was short lived and the index increased by two days in 2007. The increase in the index is tempered by slowing national income growth despite significant spending growth.[/i]

Worth highlighting again:

“In other words, the cost of government consumes 52.6 percent of national income.”

EDIT: while the flower was lovely, the picture was originally supposed to be the chart at issue. :>

[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:
If you are a fiscal conservative, this data and chart will drive you insane.

[i]Cost of Government Day (COGD) is the date of the calendar year on which the average American worker has earned enough gross income to pay off his or her share of spending and regulatory burdens imposed by government on the federal, state and local levels.

Cost of Government Day 2007
Cost of Government Day for 2007 is July 11th. With July 11th as the COGD, working people must toil on average 192 days out of the year just to meet all the costs imposed by government. [u]In other words, the cost of government consumes 52.6 percent of national income.[/u]

Cost of Government: Trends
Cost of Government Day falls two days later in 2007 than last year�??s revised date of July 9th. In 2007, the average American will need to work an additional 11 days out of the year to pay off his or her cost of government compared to 2000. Slower economic growth, a recession, the war, Hurricane Katrina, increased spending and corporate scandals were responsible for the dramatic increase from June 29th in 2000 to as high as July 12th in 2005.

Consistent with historical changes in the index, as the economy expanded, the cost of government declined due to lower levels of spending and higher incomes of workers. However, the drop in the cost of government was short lived and the index increased by two days in 2007. The increase in the index is tempered by slowing national income growth despite significant spending growth.[/i]

Worth highlighting again:

“In other words, the cost of government consumes 52.6 percent of national income.”

EDIT: while the flower was lovely, the picture was originally supposed to be the chart at issue. :>[/quote]

In the words of chancellor Helmuth Kohl:

" Everything more than 50% is practically socialism"

To the Peoples Republic of America!

Venceremos comrades!

Thunder,

An excellent thread, as usual.

I just wonder how long our society can get away with continually spending more than it earns. What’s going to happen when foreign investors no longer want to lend us the money to pay our bills? Our interest rates are low now, since Chinese investors have to do SOMETHING with all they earn. Between the oil money outflows and buying all the Chinese can produce, a giant wall of paper dollars is waiting to do a nice tsunami to us.

Every society that tried this dissolved in a chaos of ruin and slaughter.

[quote]Headhunter wrote:
Every society that tried this dissolved in a chaos of ruin and slaughter.[/quote]

And in every one of those societies, it happened as a result of war.

But don’t let that prevent you from carrying out your most noble and excellent goal of policing the world with American might…

Or you could vote for Ron Paul and save the country.

I’d like to know how those statistics are compiled. What costs are we measuring, specifically?

I’m pretty sure that the government is not taking over 50% of my earnings. I get a paycheck every other week. The only deduction that is being made is for social security (FICA), which is about 7% of my gross earnings.

I don’t pay state or federal income taxes. I simply told my employer not to deduct that. Even if I did, it wouldn’t amount to 50% of my earnings. Then you’ve got sales taxes, but I don’t purchase many items to which those apply.

I realize there are many hidden costs to the taxpayer, but I don’t see how those could be precisely calculated. Inflation, for instance. There is no hard data regarding such things.

The government runs mostly on inflation, not direct taxes. At the federal level, that is.

[quote]Nominal Prospect wrote:
Headhunter wrote:
Every society that tried this dissolved in a chaos of ruin and slaughter.

And in every one of those societies, it happened as a result of war.

But don’t let that prevent you from carrying out your most noble and excellent goal of policing the world with American might…

Or you could vote for Ron Paul and save the country.

[/quote]

Someone has to play cop. Any suggestions for replacement? Its a choice between chaos now or chaos later. Just like in 1940 — either Hitler and Tojo run the world, or the USA steps in. Shitty choices, no doubt.

If the global planners can establish the New World Order BEFORE our economic collapse, it may possibly be prevented. Since we’re going to get a one world governance anyway, it may be more benign if its established during relative peace. If its established during chaos and war, guess what the NWO will look like. Shitty choices again, but I prefer the kinder, gentler one.

LOL!

Welcome to socialism peoples! Your Democracy is long dead.

One step closer to communism.

[quote]Nominal Prospect wrote:

I don’t pay state or federal income taxes. I simply told my employer not to deduct that. Even if I did, it wouldn’t amount to 50% of my earnings. …[/quote]

And you get away with this? I hate paying taxes but I hate the thought of being a tax cheat even more.

Someone that does not pay their taxes is a leech on society (unless they live in the woods).

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
Nominal Prospect wrote:

I don’t pay state or federal income taxes. I simply told my employer not to deduct that. Even if I did, it wouldn’t amount to 50% of my earnings. …

And you get away with this? I hate paying taxes but I hate the thought of being a tax cheat even more.

Someone that does not pay their taxes is a leech on society (unless they live in the woods).[/quote]

Really, how high would taxes have to be, so that your opinion would change?

I also wonder what kind of leech could live off an abstract idea, but since it was a metaphore…

We’ll have to go through another Dark Ages before another set of brilliant men finally write a Constitution that forbids taxes and ANY interference in the economy by government.

[quote]Headhunter wrote:
Someone has to play cop. Any suggestions for replacement? Its a choice between chaos now or chaos later. Just like in 1940 — either Hitler and Tojo run the world, or the USA steps in. Shitty choices, no doubt.

If the global planners can establish the New World Order BEFORE our economic collapse, it may possibly be prevented. Since we’re going to get a one world governance anyway, it may be more benign if its established during relative peace. If its established during chaos and war, guess what the NWO will look like. Shitty choices again, but I prefer the kinder, gentler one. [/quote]

In a world of nuclear powers, you have strong deterrents against rogue dictators. Forget 1940, go back to 1913.

Europe and Asia have been fighting countless wars for hundreds of years. This was true in 1776 and in 1940. The Founders did not take it as a sign that the U.S. had to become an empire, or it would be swallowed up by other powers. Having just fought and won the Revolution, they knew better than to follow the same path of the empire they had just defeated.

Look, it would be nearly impossible for this country to be invaded militarily by any European or Asian power. If Great Britain couldn’t do it in the 1700’s, no country today could even come close. We are safe as shit, surrounded, as we are, by two huge oceans.

The only threat comes from non-conventional military forces, i.e. fourth-generation/terrorism. And those threats don’t arise by accident. They arise because…“we’ve been over there”. We need to stop and pull out.

The worst threat we could face by pulling out is the same threat that we’re already facing now. We don’t have much to lose. This country ought to give Ron Paul a shot. And I actually think enough people realize that to give him a chance of winning.

There is speculation that the neocons want to bomb Iran before Bush gets out of office. That could have serious economic consequences.

[quote]Nominal Prospect wrote:
Look, it would be nearly impossible for this country to be invaded militarily by any European or Asian power. If Great Britain couldn’t do it in the 1700’s, no country today could even come close. We are safe as shit, surrounded, as we are, by two huge oceans.

The only threat comes from non-conventional military forces, i.e. fourth-generation/terrorism. And those threats don’t arise by accident. They arise because…“we’ve been over there”. We need to stop and pull out.

The worst threat we could face by pulling out is the same threat that we’re already facing now. We don’t have much to lose. This country ought to give Ron Paul a shot. And I actually think enough people realize that to give him a chance of winning.

There is speculation that the neocons want to bomb Iran before Bush gets out of office. That could have serious economic consequences. [/quote]

We are far too connected economically with China and the Middle East to pull out. In 1940, we faced a similar choice and chose to intervene in world affairs — at a time when we were far less connected economically. We’re going to police the world until we are literally force to stop doing so, probably by an economic collapse here at home.

I’ve been reading ‘The Creature from Jekyll Island’ (as you recommended) and his argument is quite powerful. There will be a worldwide socialist state whether we want it or not. I hope its more like socialism in Sweden today as opposed to socialism in Germany circa 1940.

[quote]thunderbolt23 wrote:
If you are a fiscal conservative, this data and chart will drive you insane.


[/quote]

RonPaul2008

[quote]Zap Branigan wrote:
Nominal Prospect wrote:

I don’t pay state or federal income taxes. I simply told my employer not to deduct that. Even if I did, it wouldn’t amount to 50% of my earnings. …

And you get away with this? I hate paying taxes but I hate the thought of being a tax cheat even more.

Someone that does not pay their taxes is a leech on society (unless they live in the woods).[/quote]

He said he doesn’t pay his income taxes. Presumably, he pays his municipal taxes, sales taxes, toll booths, utilities, etc. that go towards paying for the various services he uses.

As for “getting away with it,” if it’s not illegal, he’s not getting away with anything. It’s you who’s voluntarily giving the government a portion of your income. You generous Zap, you.

[quote]pookie wrote:
Zap Branigan wrote:
Nominal Prospect wrote:

I don’t pay state or federal income taxes. I simply told my employer not to deduct that. Even if I did, it wouldn’t amount to 50% of my earnings. …

And you get away with this? I hate paying taxes but I hate the thought of being a tax cheat even more.

Someone that does not pay their taxes is a leech on society (unless they live in the woods).

He said he doesn’t pay his income taxes. Presumably, he pays his municipal taxes, sales taxes, toll booths, utilities, etc. that go towards paying for the various services he uses.

As for “getting away with it,” if it’s not illegal, he’s not getting away with anything. It’s you who’s voluntarily giving the government a portion of your income. You generous Zap, you.
[/quote]

Is this not tax evasion though? I can’t wait to take Government 101… this stuff interests me big time.

Anyone got any good links about the income tax and the right of the US government to tax ect…

I know I’ve seen a few good Youtube videos, but I don’t always trust the information they give…

[quote]pookie wrote:
As for “getting away with it,” if it’s not illegal, he’s not getting away with anything. It’s you who’s voluntarily giving the government a portion of your income. You generous Zap, you.
[/quote]

Income taxes are not voluntary.

If this is true, and NP doesn’t file at the end of the year, then yes, he is “getting away with it.”

In addition, he’s right ballsy to complain about anything with regard to government, as he is obviously unwilling to pay his fair share.

[quote]Beowolf wrote:
Is this not tax evasion though? I can’t wait to take Government 101… this stuff interests me big time.

Anyone got any good links about the income tax and the right of the US government to tax ect…

I know I’ve seen a few good Youtube videos, but I don’t always trust the information they give…[/quote]

Well, you shouldn’t trust them. Taxes are in the US Code. Title 26.

Contrary to what some people would like you to believe, tax evasion is illegal. No one tricked us into paying taxes even though we don’t actually have to. If you don’t pay for long enough, they will come for you.

[quote]Headhunter wrote:
Someone has to play cop. [/quote]

Isn’t that the ultimate example of a “Nanny State” that you like to complain about? When the government isn’t just spending to solve US taxpayers’ problems, but spending to police the whole worlds’ problems?

Also, remember that taxpayers get things in return for paying taxes, like clean water, safe highways, safe food supply, an education for your children, garbage collection and so on. It’s not like this money is being flushed down a toilet (sure there is a lot of waste, and that is definitely a problem. Government definitely needs more accountability on spending).

If you want to complain about wasting money, complain about the 450 billion dollars we’ve spent occupying Iraq without a logical plan, and based on bogus rationale. Since Bush doesn’t include that money in the regular budget, does your chart even reflect those costs?

[quote]nephorm wrote:
Income taxes are not voluntary.

If this is true, and NP doesn’t file at the end of the year, then yes, he is “getting away with it.”

In addition, he’s right ballsy to complain about anything with regard to government, as he is obviously unwilling to pay his fair share. [/quote]

Well, it seems that at least one court disagrees with you:

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007707130321

In the US, even the tax code has entertainment value.

[quote]Brad61 wrote:
Also, remember that taxpayers get things in return for paying taxes, like clean water, safe highways, safe food supply, an education for your children, garbage collection and so on. It’s not like this money is being flushed down a toilet (sure there is a lot of waste, and that is definitely a problem. Government definitely needs more accountability on spending).[/quote]

According to at least one “tax protester” video, none of those things are paid for by the income tax. The income tax, if I recall correctly, is only used to service the interest on your ridiculously large debt. Not one penny goes towards any service. All of those are paid for by other taxes (municipal taxes, sales taxes, etc.)

There’s already a thread somewhere about this, with links to the video. I’ll edit if I can manage to find it.

Video is here: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1656880303867390173&q=America%3A+From+Freedom+to+Fascism&total=769&start=0&num=10&so=0&type=search&plindex=0

Thread is “IRS Tyranny”

[quote]pookie wrote:
Well, it seems that at least one court disagrees with you:

http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007707130321

In the US, even the tax code has entertainment value.
[/quote]

Just because the jury didn’t find him guilty of the “failure to file” charges doesn’t mean that they agree with his argument that there’s no law requiring him to file or pay.