The Unseen Wastefulness in the U.S. Government: Unnecessary Spending and Political Inaction

There is a misconception that money simply flows through society and is collected by the U.S. government as taxes to fund various projects. In reality, the U.S. Congress identifies community needs, and the Federal Reserve creates the necessary funds to support these projects. The money isn't generated from federal taxes, and each community has its own unique needs, whether it be museums or fish ladders. No community can mandate what is essential for another. Federal taxes and the sale of treasury bonds and bills are only used to control inflation.

Not everyone agrees on which spending is wasteful. Therefore, it's difficult to quantify the amount of unnecessary spending and tackle this issue politically. When spending is identified by all as wasteful, action is often taken. For instance, funds that are universally acknowledged to be wasteful are generally addressed to some extent.

Does the U.S. Government Waste Money on Unnecessary Things?

Yes, indeed, the U.S. government spends a significant amount on things that are deemed unnecessary. Virtually all of the government's spending can be considered so. The set of unnecessary and unconstitutional expenditures overlap considerably, and in many cases, they are essentially the same. Even some essential items that are currently unconstitutional are debated, but they arguably comprise a small part of the total spending. Remove the Departments of Education, Interior, Energy, Agriculture, Labor, Commerce, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Transportation, and Homeland Security, and you’ll find that these departments do very little constitutional work. Their removal would leave the remaining constitutional and necessary tasks to be possibly covered by a single combined department.

Furthermore, most of the so-called useful activities currently performed by these cabinet-level departments could be more effectively taken over by state and local governments, businesses, charitable organizations, or individuals. Therefore, what's left is either not worth doing at all or harmful to society. This constitutes significant waste—a figure that easily exceeds 90% of what the federal government does.

Why Isn't This Addressed More Effectively?

The problem with confronting the wasteful spending lies in the political nature of the issue. Attempting to rationalize or cut down on wasteful spending often faces resistance from those who believe the spending is critical to their communities. This resistance comes from both partisan and non-partisan sources. Politicians may fear backlash from voters who rely on federal programs deemed essential or may face political consequences from their constituents. Additionally, the complexity of the intertwined issues—especially in terms of what is constitutional and what is wasteful—adds to the challenge.

In the current political climate, addressing the issue of wasteful government spending often requires consensus-building and compromise. However, the current political landscape is often divided, making it difficult to find common ground. Moreover, there is a lack of clear, objective criteria to guide the decision-making process. Without a universally accepted standard for identifying wasteful spending, it becomes challenging to implement meaningful reform.

A more streamlined and efficient approach to government spending requires a clear and transparent process for evaluating and prioritizing expenditures. This could involve the establishment of an independent body tasked with addressing wasteful spending. Additionally, fostering a culture of accountability and transparency within the government could help to reduce waste and improve the efficiency of public spending.

Conclusion

The U.S. government's wasteful spending is a significant issue that needs to be addressed. While not all spending is unconstitutional or wasteful, a substantial portion of the government's activities can be deemed unnecessary. Addressing this issue requires a combination of political will, clear criteria for identifying wasteful spending, and a commitment to public accountability. The challenge lies in overcoming the current political obstacles and prioritizing the welfare of the nation over short-term political gains.