---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In the liberal imagination, the money is…"
description: "\"In the liberal imagination, the money is the government's by default, and the president and Congress determine through the tax code how much to give ba..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/702/matthew-continetti-51814_code_in-the-liberal-imagination-the-money-is_1679669.png"
---

#  In the liberal imagination, the money is the government's…

![“In the liberal imagination, the money is the government's by default, and the president and Congress determine through the tax code how much to give back to the people.” quote by Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/702/matthew-continetti-51814_code_in-the-liberal-imagination-the-money-is_1679669.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/702/matthew-continetti-51814_code_in-the-liberal-imagination-the-money-is_1679669.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/702/matthew-continetti-51814_code_in-the-liberal-imagination-the-money-is_1679669.png)

> “In the liberal imagination, the money is the government's by default, and the president and Congress determine through the tax code how much to give back to the people.”

[Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The quote suggests that in liberal thought, government owns money by default, and elected officials decide its distribution via tax policy.

**In simple terms:** Liberals see government as default money owner, Congress decides distribution.

Key Takeaway

Recognize how tax policy shapes wealth distribution.

Themes

politics economics government taxation wealth distribution

Mood

critical analytical

Type

political economic

When to use this quote

- budget planning
- public policy debates
- citizen advocacy
- tax reform discussions

Key Concepts

public finance political theory tax policy

Questions to Reflect On

- How does tax policy reflect societal values?
- What alternatives exist to government-controlled money?

A Different Perspective

Assumes a monolithic liberal view, ignoring diverse perspectives.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Code](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-back/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Programming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/programming/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/)

## Related quotes

> [The thing is, Obama is right that it would be a calamity for the government to default on its debt by not meeting its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-podhoretz/the-thing-is-obama-is-right-that-it-would-be-a-calamity-for-the/)

[John Podhoretz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-podhoretz/)

> [The shutdown itself is bad but not devastating. The real danger will come up in a couple of weeks. There's legislation which is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/the-shutdown-itself-is-bad-but-not-devastating-the-real-danger-will/)

[Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/)

> [Thomas Jefferson explained, Congress has not unlimited powers to provide for the general welfare, but only those specifically enumerated. .. If Congress can determine…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-drayton/thomas-jefferson-explained-congress-has-not-unlimited-powers-to/)

[Bill Drayton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-drayton/)

> [The president has undermined trust. No longer will the members of Congress be entitled to accept his veracity. Caveat emptor has become the word.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-graham/the-president-has-undermined-trust-no-longer-will-the-members-of/)

[Bob Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-graham/)

> [Well, fancy giving money to the Government! Might as well have put it down the drain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-p-herbert/well-fancy-giving-money-to-the-government-might-as-well-have-put-it/)

[A. P. Herbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-p-herbert/)

> [Who's going to do a better job of spending your money? You or the government?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-szeliga/who-s-going-to-do-a-better-job-of-spending-your-money-you-or-the/)

[Kathy Szeliga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-szeliga/)

> [If people won't spend any money, the government has this moral obligation to do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/if-people-won-t-spend-any-money-the-government-has-this-moral/)

[Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/)

> [“It is baffling that my progressive friends lament the influence of so-called big money on government while at the same time proposing to expand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-d-williamson/it-is-baffling-that-my-progressive-friends-lament-the-influence-of-so/)

[Kevin D. Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-d-williamson/)

> [The people of Montana understand that you will never be able to take enough money from them and give it to the government to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rosendale/the-people-of-montana-understand-that-you-will-never-be-able-to-take/)

[Matt Rosendale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rosendale/)

> [The government, in my judgment, cannot create money; the government can give its note, like an individual, and the prospect of its being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/the-government-in-my-judgment-cannot-create-money-the-government-can/)

[Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/)

> [If you make any money, the government shoves you in the creek once a year with it in your pockets, and all that don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/will-rogers/if-you-make-any-money-the-government-shoves-you-in-the-creek-once-a/)

[Will Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/will-rogers/)

> [As the old saying goes, 'money is power' and the more money the government takes, the more power it has over individuals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-mcglowan/as-the-old-saying-goes-money-is-power-and-the-more-money-the/)

Angela McGlowan

> [We are for aiding our allies by sharing of our material blessings with those nations which share in our fundamental beliefs, but we're against…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/we-are-for-aiding-our-allies-by-sharing-of-our-material-blessings/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [I do think that people ought to have some control over their money, rather than the government, just mandating to them how they're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saxby-chambliss/i-do-think-that-people-ought-to-have-some-control-over-their-money/)

[Saxby Chambliss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saxby-chambliss/)

> [I don't give my money to the government.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-bongino/i-don-t-give-my-money-to-the-government/)

[Dan Bongino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-bongino/)

## More by Matthew Continetti

> [There is plenty of time for Republicans to have a Macaca moment. But right now, as of October 17, 2014, the Republican Senate candidates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/there-is-plenty-of-time-for-republicans-to-have-a-macaca-moment-but/)

[Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/)

> [The realities of the modern global economy require government to play a substantial role in ensuring the national and economic security of the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/the-realities-of-the-modern-global-economy-require-government-to-play/)

[Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/)

> [Something peculiar has happened. As I write, none of the Republican candidates for Senate has become a public embarrassment. On the contrary: For the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/something-peculiar-has-happened-as-i-write-none-of-the-republican/)

[Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/)

> [Persecution means an attempt to drive out, attempt to subjugate, and there are various ways that that can be done. Sarah Palin's opponents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/persecution-means-an-attempt-to-drive-out-attempt-to-subjugate-and/)

[Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/)

> [I think that conservatism as we understand it is coming under great strain during the era of Trump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/i-think-that-conservatism-as-we-understand-it-is-coming-under-great/)

[Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/)

> [The Beltway is waking up to the realities of Prsident Obam's budget plan, which taxes, spends, and borrows as far as the eye can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/the-beltway-is-waking-up-to-the-realities-of-prsident-obam-s-budget/)

[Matthew Continetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/)

[Explore all 7 Matthew Continetti quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/)

## More Code quotes

> [At the deepest level, all living things that have ever been looked at have the same DNA code. And many of the same genes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/at-the-deepest-level-all-living-things-that-have-ever-been-looked-at/)

[Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/)

> [It is no secret that I have read 'The Da Vinci Code' several times. I genuinely believe that 'The Da Vinci Code' and 'Angels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashwin-sanghi/it-is-no-secret-that-i-have-read-the-da-vinci-code-several-times-i/)

[Ashwin Sanghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashwin-sanghi/)

> [Programmers are always surrounded by complexity; we cannot avoid it… If our basic tool, the language in which we design and code our programs,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hoare/programmers-are-always-surrounded-by-complexity-we-cannot-avoid-it-if/)

[Tony Hoare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hoare/)

> [One of my most productive days was throwing away 1,000 lines of code.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-thompson/one-of-my-most-productive-days-was-throwing-away-1-000-lines-of-code/)

[Ken Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-thompson/)

> [Writing code means always having to say you're sorry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ford/writing-code-means-always-having-to-say-you-re-sorry/)

[Paul Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ford/)

> [It would be a piece of ingenuousness to accuse the man of today of his lack of moral code. The accusation would leave him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jose-ortega-y-gasset/it-would-be-a-piece-of-ingenuousness-to-accuse-the-man-of-today-of/)

[Jose Ortega y Gasset](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jose-ortega-y-gasset/)

> [I loved 'Chicago Code;' I watched that a lot. It was great because it really captured the city - I'm from Chicago, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessy-schram/i-loved-chicago-code-i-watched-that-a-lot-it-was-great-because-it/)

[Jessy Schram](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessy-schram/)

> [I kind of pride myself on coming onto things that are well-oiled machines and finding a way to bring what I bring and fit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-lowe/i-kind-of-pride-myself-on-coming-onto-things-that-are-well-oiled/)

[Rob Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-lowe/)

> [When we're done simplifying the tax code, getting the lobbyist carve outs our of the tax code, lowering our rates and letting people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/when-we-re-done-simplifying-the-tax-code-getting-the-lobbyist-carve/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [The tax code is 10 times the size of the Bible with none of the good news.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/the-tax-code-is-10-times-the-size-of-the-bible-with-none-of-the-good/)

[Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/)

> [The Cheney team had, for example, technological supremacy over the National Security Council staff. That is to say, they could read their e-mails. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-wilkerson/the-cheney-team-had-for-example-technological-supremacy-over-the/)

[Lawrence Wilkerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-wilkerson/)

> [ \[T\]he tax code has been piling up, year after year, a symbol of everything gone wrong in America, of arrogant rulers and lost freedom,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-armey/t-he-tax-code-has-been-piling-up-year-after-year-a-symbol-of/)

[Dick Armey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-armey/)

> [In open source, you really have to be near the watershed to have an impact on the source code. Customers want to be near…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-fenton/in-open-source-you-really-have-to-be-near-the-watershed-to-have-an/)

[Peter Fenton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-fenton/)

> [We can use our art to become political, to become something you want to talk about. We make clothes, but we have the chance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivier-rousteing/we-can-use-our-art-to-become-political-to-become-something-you-want/)

[Olivier Rousteing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivier-rousteing/)

> [Your zip code or your income level should not dictate your access to healthy drinking water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-padilla/your-zip-code-or-your-income-level-should-not-dictate-your-access-to/)

[Alex Padilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-padilla/)

[Browse all 1,662 Code quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/code/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "In the liberal imagination, the money is the government's by default, and the president and Congress determine through the tax code how much to give back to the people.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Matthew Continetti"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/in-the-liberal-imagination-the-money-is-the-government-s-by-default/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Code"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/in-the-liberal-imagination-the-money-is-the-government-s-by-default/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/702/matthew-continetti-51814_code_in-the-liberal-imagination-the-money-is_1679669.png",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/702/matthew-continetti-51814_code_in-the-liberal-imagination-the-money-is_1679669.png",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/702/matthew-continetti-51814_code_in-the-liberal-imagination-the-money-is_1679669.png",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“In the liberal imagination, the money is the government's by default, and the president and Congress…” — Matthew Continetti",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Matthew Continetti",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-continetti/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "In the liberal imagination, the money...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/in-the-liberal-imagination-the-money-is-the-government-s-by-default/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-continetti/in-the-liberal-imagination-the-money-is-the-government-s-by-default/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
