The following is an excerpt from our short course entitled “What Could Governments Do for Us?” In our previous posts, we discussed the difficulties faced by Congress and the president when deciding the best mix of taxation, spending, and borrowing. We also reviewed specific budgetary choices concerning liberty and justice, national security, the advancement of […]
Budgeting for Social Protections Read More »
The following is an excerpt from our short course entitled “What Could Governments Do for Us?” In our previous posts, we discussed the difficulties faced by Congress and the president when deciding the best mix of taxation, spending, and borrowing. We also reviewed specific budgetary choices concerning liberty and justice, national security, the advancement of
Budgeting for Productivity & Quality of Life Read More »
The following is an excerpt from our short course entitled “What Could Governments Do for Us?” In our previous post, we discussed the difficulties faced by Congress and the president when deciding the best mix if taxation, spending, and borrowing. In this post, we discuss specific budgetary choices concerning liberty and justice. Classically liberal republics
Budgeting for Liberty & Justice Read More »
The following is an excerpt from our short course entitled “What Could Governments Do for Us?” In this post, we discuss issues related to making budgetary choices. Previous posts dealt with issues related to taxation and borrowing and governmental capacity to get things done. The Constitution assigns Congress the powers to raise revenues, spend, and
Making Budgetary Choices Read More »
The following is an excerpt from our short course entitled “What Could Governments Do for Us?” In our previous post, we discussed some of the factors that share a government’s ability to get things done. In this post, we discuss a key requirement for accountability, the willingness and ability to monitor government policy outcomes against
Monitoring & Accountability Read More »
Trust in our system of democracy depends in no small part upon how well it delivers for us. The services we get from the government are part of that. Few of us are happy about shut-downs, inadequate services, waste, and unsustainable debt. That prompts a question: how is the U.S. budget process supposed to work?
The Federal Budget Process Read More »
Every government needs a civil service to get things done. Yet, hiring people into the civil service tempts politicians with some bad behaviors: could the new hires be selected for their loyalty to me or my party, could the old hires be fired for disloyalty, or could I make some money by asking new hires
Competence, Loyalty, and Patronage Read More »
Pundits haven’t yet fully connected the dots in front of them. Yes, presidential use of national emergency powers to spend money on things that Congress chose not to authorize is against the Article 1 of Constitution. Here is the other dot: the choice of president became more consequential as the Office of the President became more powerful. This trend explains why election campaigns have been fought ever more viciously – by politicians and citizens alike.
Connecting the Dots Read More »
Trust in our system of democracy depends in no small part upon how well it delivers for us. The services we get from the government are part of that. Few of us are happy about shut-downs, inadequate services, waste, and unsustainable debt. That prompts a question: how is the U.S. budget process supposed to work?
Introduction to the Budget Process Read More »
