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Priority #1: Set a small government agenda

By Carla Howell for The Center For Small Government

To make government small, we must advance a small government agenda — and put Big Government on the defensive.

In a typical election year, there are state and local ballot initiatives across America, many of which aim to increase taxes. Or to increase government spending.

If you think government spending and taxes are too high, you probably vote against these campaigns for more Big Government.

We celebrate when we defeat them. “Holding the line” on taxes IS better than losing ground. Avoiding a loss IS better than suffering a loss.

And yet…

The states and local communities where tax increases go down are no better off after the vote than they were before the vote.

They still have the same Big Government and high taxes they had before the vote.

“No new taxes” is only enough to keep Big Government from getting bigger.

Or is it enough?

Government grows faster than the private sector - in good times and in bad. When there’s a severe contraction, Big Government Special Interests hang onto every dime they possibly can by raising taxes and borrowing. When the economy’s booming, big government grows even faster.

“No new taxes” slows the growth of Big Government. But it can’t even hold the line on growth given the insatiable greed of those who work to maintain the size of government.

“Repeal, remove, reduce taxes” - and forcing lawmakers to cut government spending - is the only way to make government small. And small government is the only way to make taxes low and keep them low.

In the 24 states that have the ballot initiative, and in the thousands of communities that have the ballot initiative, those of us who believe government is too big, and want it to be smaller than it is today, must launch and promote bold tax and spending cut initiatives.

Those of us who believe government is too big, and want it to be smaller than it is today, must run for office, and support candidates who run for office, who rally for bold tax and spending cuts.

Huge tax cuts now. Huge spending cuts now. Boldly move toward small government.

Why?

So taxpayers can reap the big, immediate, direct benefits of tax cuts and repeals.

To cut taxes, cut spending and advance liberty, we must go on the offensive.

To cut taxes, cut spending and advance liberty, we must put the supporters of Big Government on the defensive.

We must keep them on the defensive. Make them expend their energies trying to “hold the line” by running ballot initiatives – and candidates for public office – on proposals to cut taxes, reduce government spending and scale back or eliminate Big Government programs.

Instead of tax cutters always fighting for “No new taxes,”, let them try to rally their supporters around “No new tax CUTS.”

Pro-taxpayer candidates and supporters must relentlessly launch ballot initiatives and campaigns that shrink government. Again and again. Year after year. Until we win.

Until federal, state and local government is small and constitutionally restricted to defending our lives, liberty, and property.

We must make small government - shrinking today’s oversize government, high taxes, high spending, and needless government meddling - the #1 Priority in America.

This could be the start of something small.

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