Yes, Nobel laureate economist Milton Friedman famously said, "Nothing is so permanent as a temporary government program," a quote reflecting his skepticism about government expansion, noting how measures introduced as short-term fixes often become entrenched due to political inertia and interest groups, citing examples like income tax initially for war but remaining indefinitely. [1, 2, 3, 4]
Meaning of the Quote
• Government Growth: Friedman observed that once the government creates a program, it tends to stay, even after its original justification (like a crisis or war) disappears.
• Political Incentives: Interest groups form around these programs, lobbying to keep them active because they benefit from them, making them difficult to eliminate.
• Economic Impact: This tendency leads to a gradual, often unnoticed, expansion of government influence and spending, which he opposed as a free-market advocate. [1, 3, 4, 5, 6]
Examples
• British Income Tax: Introduced temporarily to fund wars, it became a permanent fixture in the tax system.
• Welfare Programs: Many temporary relief efforts become permanent fixtures, creating bureaucracies and dependencies that resist reform. [1, 5]
The quote highlights a core belief of Friedman's: that government intervention, even when well-intentioned, often has unintended and lasting consequences, making it a powerful tool for expanding state power. [3, 4, 6]
To understand how this principle applies to modern policy debates, would you like to explore a specific example, such as the Affordable Care Act or a recent stimulus package?
AI responses may include mistakes.
Henry McClure
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