--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The only way Congress can get one dollar…" description: "\"The only way Congress can get one dollar to spend is to take that one dollar from Americans, borrow that one dollar from Americans, or inflate that one..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/walter-e-williams-2709_congress_the-only-way-congress-can-get-one-dollar_2003568.png" --- # The only way Congress can get one dollar to spend is to… ![“The only way Congress can get one dollar to spend is to take that one dollar from Americans, borrow that one dollar from Americans, or inflate that one dollar from Americans. So, it's very much like the visual image of a swimming pool. A person notes there is a shallow end, so he takes the water…” quote by Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/walter-e-williams-2709_congress_the-only-way-congress-can-get-one-dollar_2003568.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/walter-e-williams-2709_congress_the-only-way-congress-can-get-one-dollar_2003568.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/30f/walter-e-williams-2709_congress_the-only-way-congress-can-get-one-dollar_2003568.png) > “The only way Congress can get one dollar to spend is to take that one dollar from Americans, borrow that one dollar from Americans, or inflate that one dollar from Americans. So, it's very much like the visual image of a swimming pool. A person notes there is a shallow end, so he takes the water out of the deep end and pours it in the shallow end, hoping to raise the height of the water in the pool - and you would call that person stupid.” [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Government spending is funded by taking money from citizens, borrowing, or inflating, akin to redistributing water in a pool, which the speaker deems foolish. **In simple terms:** Government spending shifts money from people, often poorly. Key Takeaway Critically evaluate fiscal policies and their impacts. Themes economics government fiscal policy inflation Mood critical skeptical Type political economic When to use this quote - budget planning - tax policy - public debates - economic education Key Concepts public finance redistributive economics Questions to Reflect On - Is this redistribution always harmful? - What alternatives exist for funding public services? A Different Perspective Such redistribution can lead to inefficiencies and unintended consequences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Borrow Dollar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borrow-dollar-272107/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Congress Dollar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress-dollar-3538929/) [Debt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/debt/) [Dollar Spend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollar-spend-785526/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Ends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ends/) [Height](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/height/) [Inflate Dollar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inflate-dollar-3538930/) [Notes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/notes/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Pool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pool/) [Raises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/raises/) [Shallow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shallow/) [Spend Dollar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spend-dollar-810787/) [Spending](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spending/) [Stupid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stupid/) [Swimming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swimming/) [Swimming pool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/swimming-pool/) [Taxes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taxes/) [Visual images](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visual-images/) [Visuals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/visuals/) [Water](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/water/) [Way](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/way/) ## Related quotes > [I read. It affects every decision that I make. Every dollar that I spend, every dollar that I make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adina-porter/i-read-it-affects-every-decision-that-i-make-every-dollar-that-i/) [Adina Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adina-porter/) > [“If you earn a dollar and spend a dollar ten, you’ll be a failure. But if you earn a dollar and spend ninety cents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sir-john-templeton/if-you-earn-a-dollar-and-spend-a-dollar-ten-you-ll-be-a-failure-but/) [Sir John Templeton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sir-john-templeton/) > [If all bank loans were paid, there would not be a dollar of coin or currency in circulation. Someone has to borrow every dollar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-hemphill/if-all-bank-loans-were-paid-there-would-not-be-a-dollar-of-coin-or/) [Robert W. Hemphill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-hemphill/) > [It is a wise rule and should be fundamental in a government disposed to cherish its credit, and at the same time to restrain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/it-is-a-wise-rule-and-should-be-fundamental-in-a-government-disposed/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [Someone has to borrow every dollar we have in circulation, cash or credit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-w-hemphill/someone-has-to-borrow-every-dollar-we-have-in-circulation-cash-or/) [Robert W. Hemphill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-w-hemphill/) > [“If all bank loans were paid, no one would have a bank deposit, and there would not be a dollar of currency or coin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-hemphill/if-all-bank-loans-were-paid-no-one-would-have-a-bank-deposit-and/) [Robert H. Hemphill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-hemphill/) > [Every dollar the government doesn't spend, tax, or borrow is a dollar that businesses and families can spend or invest themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moore/every-dollar-the-government-doesn-t-spend-tax-or-borrow-is-a-dollar/) [Stephen Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moore/) > [If I only had two dollars left I would spend one dollar on PR.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/if-i-only-had-two-dollars-left-i-would-spend-one-dollar-on-pr/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [American voters should understand that Congress will always find a way to spend every last dollar sent to Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ron-paul/american-voters-should-understand-that-congress-will-always-find-a-2/) [Ron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ron-paul/) > [Government can only spend a dollar to help someone when it forcibly takes a dollar from someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-moore/government-can-only-spend-a-dollar-to-help-someone-when-it-forcibly/) [Stephen Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-moore/) > [“If love were a glove, I’d wear it on my foot like a goldfish in a silver mine. Ten dimes is too much money…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/if-love-were-a-glove-i-d-wear-it-on-my-foot-like-a-goldfish-in-a/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Part of the problem I find with money books is that there's this whole set of money books that make you feel almost guilty…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hill-harper/part-of-the-problem-i-find-with-money-books-is-that-there-s-this/) [Hill Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hill-harper/) > [I want to spend my last dollar on my last day. Either that or leave $88 million to Anna Nicole Smith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luke-perry/i-want-to-spend-my-last-dollar-on-my-last-day-either-that-or-leave-88/) [Luke Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luke-perry/) > [The less you have to think about how to spend every dollar, the more likely you are to spend wisely.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suze-orman/the-less-you-have-to-think-about-how-to-spend-every-dollar-the-more/) [Suze Orman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suze-orman/) > [We must teach our children not to spend their money a dollar at a time. If you spend your dollar at a time, you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/we-must-teach-our-children-not-to-spend-their-money-a-dollar-at-a/) [Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/) ## More by Walter E. Williams > [Vote for me. I'll use my office to take another American's money and give it to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/vote-for-me-i-ll-use-my-office-to-take-another-american-s-money-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Elect me to office. I will protect and defend the U.S. Constitution. Because there's no constitutional authority for Congress spending on the objects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/elect-me-to-office-i-will-protect-and-defend-the-u-s-constitution/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [More important than anything else is for Americans to wise up to class warfare demagoguery and reject the politics of envy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/more-important-than-anything-else-is-for-americans-to-wise-up-to/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Wal-Mart has become the whipping boy for political demagogues, unions and anti-traders. I suggest that they have the wrong target… Wal-Mart exists and prospers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/wal-mart-has-become-the-whipping-boy-for-political-demagogues-unions/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [When the Founders thought of democracy, they saw democracy in the political sphere - a sphere strictly limited by the Constitution's well-defined and enumerated…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/when-the-founders-thought-of-democracy-they-saw-democracy-in-the/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Reaching into one's own pocket to assist his fellow man is noble and worthy of praise. Reaching into another person's pocket to assist one's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/reaching-into-one-s-own-pocket-to-assist-his-fellow-man-is-noble-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [If there's a distinct group of Americans who harbor open contempt for constitutional principles and rule of law, it's lawyers, judges and members of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/if-there-s-a-distinct-group-of-americans-who-harbor-open-contempt-for/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Conservatives and liberals are kindred spirits as far as government spending is concerned. First, let's make sure we understand what government spending is. Since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/conservatives-and-liberals-are-kindred-spirits-as-far-as-government/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Students who are alien and hostile to the education process ought to be removed. You say, "What will we do with them?" I say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/students-who-are-alien-and-hostile-to-the-education-process-ought-to/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Minimum-wage laws are one of the most powerful tools in the arsenal of racists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/minimum-wage-laws-are-one-of-the-most-powerful-tools-in-the-arsenal/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [What we call the market is really a democratic process involving millions, and in some markets billions, of people making personal decisions that express…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/what-we-call-the-market-is-really-a-democratic-process-involving/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The bottom line is that the true test of one's commitment to freedom of association doesn't come when he allows people to associate in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-bottom-line-is-that-the-true-test-of-one-s-commitment-to-freedom/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The difference between a thief and a congressman: When a thief steals your money, he doesn't expect you to thank him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-difference-between-a-thief-and-a-congressman-when-a-thief-steals/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [The global warming scare has provided a field day for politicians and others who wish to control our lives. After all, only the imagination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/the-global-warming-scare-has-provided-a-field-day-for-politicians-and/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) > [Legislators aren't known for being rocket scientists.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-e-williams/legislators-aren-t-known-for-being-rocket-scientists/) [Walter E. Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) [Explore all 153 Walter E. Williams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-e-williams/) ## More Congress quotes > [Well, my wife, Cathy Gillespie, worked for Joe Barton, who was running for Congress in 1984.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-gillespie/well-my-wife-cathy-gillespie-worked-for-joe-barton-who-was-running/) [Ed Gillespie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-gillespie/) > [We will make sure our troops have all that is necessary to complete their missions. That's why I went to the Congress last September…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/we-will-make-sure-our-troops-have-all-that-is-necessary-to-complete/) [George W. 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