Friedman on Inefficient Government and Response

Though the ineptitude of the Federal Government may infuriate us, at least the Leviathan's dysfunction and inefficiency will prevent it from wreaking worse havoc on the people of the United States. So argued Milton Friedman over thirty years ago.

Indeed there is small comfort in recognizing that an inefficient IRS will not hunt down every ineffective tax-payer. A confused Homeland Security Department is not invading every facet of our daily lives.

Yet the multi-trillion dollar national debt and entitlement liabilities crushing this nation can no longer be dubiously dismissed as laughably dysfunctional and of slight importance.

The debt burden hinders our domestic needs. The debt burden hinders our capacity to protect our rights. The debt burden compromises our national security. The latter two are core responsibilities of the Federal Government, and its Gargantuan largess is dangerous as well as inexcusable.