From the National Review: A U-turn on the Road to Serfdom

Every year, Americans for Tax Reform calculates Cost of Government Day — exactly how many days of the year Americans work to pay the total cost of government. This includes all government spending by federal, state, and local government. It also includes the costs forced into every product and service we buy in the private sector by state and federal regulations. Some regulations are silly and destructive. Others are important and useful. But none are free.

In 2008, Americans worked 197 days, until July 16 — in other words, more than half the year — to pay for the total cost of government. As a result of the bailouts, stimulus, and increased discretionary spending in the federal budget and new taxes for health care, Americans this year have worked until August 19, fully 231 days.

So go out and celebrate. For the rest of the year, you are working for yourself, not the government. Celebrate now, because you lost 34 days in just the past two years. At that rate, and with the various bailout cost-impacts looming, next year it could come as late as Christmas. Or not at all.

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