The philosophical Armageddon that has been raging since at least 1980 continues to be fought today and will be well into the future. The trenches have all been cut along this line of “free market vs. domestic welfare”, and I would argue that both sides have their merits and their respective times of required action.

That said, right now is the time for reinvestment of capital in the country – through infrastructure improvements and programs meant to put money in the hands of 95% of Americans.

Business has outpaced LOGICAL regulation for the last 30 years, and as a result the bubbles keep getting larger and keep popping louder. I don’t want to continue down the same path – there is a metric ton of executives on Wall Street looking for the next bubble and they’d love to get their hands on my money to finance it.

And to Alphonz, the money (taxes) are already in the government’s hands. For once, the money will go towards infrastructure and programs that will almost directly benefit you, and create jobs in the process.

Government downsizing happens, and it is happening now. Unfortunately, in most cases the burden of a shrinking federal government budget first hits the contractors (Boeing, etc.). And remember that the government was greatly expanded during a Republican presidency (W. Bush) via what was a necessary increase of programs to protect our borders. Like it or not, the majority of federal jobs are necessary ones.

Regarding federal/state/local government job downsizing:

NASA: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6209784.html

CA: http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/02/17/budget.states/index.html?iref=newssearch

VA: http://www.virginiabusiness.com/edit/news/20070918_buzz.shtml

State, Local (General): http://money.cnn.com/2008/06/23/news/economy/local_government_layoffs/index.htm