U.S. Government shuts down.

[kandrathe]

Even if you mean that if you allow people to spend what they want, and reduce giving monies to big bad gov't, automagically gov't will then be forced to be more efficient. This is wishful thinking at best. I grew up in a country where there was very little taxes to pay officially, and the scenario that gov't became smaller and efficient and a libertarian's wet dream, is pure bunkum.

There are many facets here. Taxes can be used as transfer payments moving it from those who are "rich" to those who are in truly in need. Or, government can choose to do those things that are painful, but might be necessary or very worthwhile for the society, like building something which requires eminent domain. But in many cases now, our government uses our tax money to "invest" in something which has little benefit to the larger society, but does benefit a constituency supporting a political agenda -- and the political class. Or, they "buy votes", giving tax money to people who really don't need it in exchange for their loyalty. In other words, corruption. The private sector is better at "investing" in those things that are risky, or may not deliver an ROI. Government should only do what it is required to do, and this is what I call minimal. I'm not in favor of the hyperbolic chaos you are describing.

I agree with you on the notion that government can use more efficiency. Yes there is bloat. But the other extreme swing carries real consequences as well. Cutting off, severe reduction, privatizing certain roles like oh I dunno, food safety inspection, clean water standards, power generation etc... can and will lead to illness\death. Not hyperbolic metaphor, real death.

I'm not talking about those things that government should do, which is to govern fairly; laws require enforcement. All the regulations must be monitored, and civil penalties must be justly exacted on the violators.