How Much is the Federal Government Worth to You

2/27/25

We consumers are making decisions on what to buy every day. Do I get the premium brand ice cream of the store labeled one? Do I drive 4 more blocks to save a penny per gallon on gas? Can I afford that vacation or should I save the money for my retirement? These are real decisions that are made every day across America and by folks in every socioeconomic stratum. The lack of information available has thwarted our ability to make the same decisions when it comes to our federal government? DOGE has changed that.

Any discussion of value must begin with the service/product being provided. Just what is being offered for “consumption”? In the case of the federal government, it is supposed to be spelled out in the Constitution. Clearly outlined in the preamble are the two things; personal safety including defense of our territory, and coordination of economic activity. While the particulars of these two delineated functions are left to the interpreter, it is clear that over the course of our nearly 250 years as a country, the definitions have been severely expanded.

Most Americans understand the need for money to be spent on our “defense”. Does that include sex change operations for servicemen and women? What about funding of United Nations  “peacekeeping” forces stationed in remote African countries? CIA activities in Panama? Is healthcare a “right” that the government is bound to provide? Is personal economic success (ex. universal income) part of the promotion of general welfare? We voters only get to answer these questions through our elected Representatives who may, or more likely, do not have any clue on whether these are proper expenditures. They are relying on bureaucrats who are “experts” on the situations. Many of whom are employed because we are spending the money so as to be heavily biased.

Through DOGE, we are seeing more clearly how far afield of the Constitutional dictates we have veered. A return to basics where we question every dollar can help voters gauge which candidates are being better stewards of their money. With the findings being presented through DOGE, voters must ask the question, “Do you support this expenditure and if so, why?” Through the revealing of each check being signed by our government, we better understand the worth of that purchase against our value proposition. We can then apply it to the representative’s/candidates’ answer.

Instead of choosing who to represent you by which color lawn sign they use, the light of knowing where your tax dollars are being spent will provide more substantial reasons on which to make your selection. How much is that worth to you?