Cost Quote by Grover Norquist
“One of the reasons some of the advocates of ever larger government and more government intrusiveness get nervous about discussions of the actual cost of government is that they fear if the people had a discussion about what government costs, the true cost of taxes, that they might not want as much government as they are presently getting.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Tax Reform Forum, 1998
People fear discussing government costs because it may reduce support for existing programs.
In simple terms: Cost awareness can shrink government support.
Key Takeaway
Encourage transparent fiscal discussions.
Themes
fiscal responsibility
public debate
government size
Mood
skeptical
analytical
Type
political
critical
When to use this quote
- legislative hearings
- public forums
- media analysis
Key Concepts
tax policy
budget transparency
Questions to Reflect On
- What would you do if you learned your taxes fund unpopular programs?
- How can we balance cost awareness with social needs?
A Different Perspective
Some may argue that reduced government could harm social safety nets.
![“When America began, government cost every citizen $20 (in [2003] money) per year. Taxes rose during wars, but for most of the life of America, spending never exceeded a few hundred dollars per person. During World War II, government got much bigger. It was supposed to shrink again after the war…” quote by John Stossel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/420/john-stossel-5146_every-man_when-america-began-government-cost-every_2163596.jpg)
![“[Photography is ] likewise even French impressionists. So the Sculls bought pop. It was politics, and they moved with it. And I think that could be happening, to some degree, with photography, too. It doesn't cost as much to do it, either.” quote by Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/2eb/garry-winogrand-2342_cost_photography-is-likewise-even-french-impr_2802.jpg)
