The Size of Government One of the most contentious issues that divide conservati

Question

The Size of Government

One of the most contentious issues that divide conservatives and liberals is the size of government. Conservatives often argue that government has bloated beyond any reasonable extent, while liberals frequently see a larger government role in society — thus requiring a larger federal bureaucracy. Do you believe that the size of the federal bureaucracy has kept pace with the increasing demands on government? Would Americans trade lower taxes for a much smaller federal government, even if there was a decrease in public services for ordinary citizens? Are claims that the United States is burdened by "so-called" big government mistaken, or should government be enlarged to meet the expanding needs of a growing nation?

Subject: PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

The Size of Government

Explanation / Answer

The Federal workforce as compared with the country’s population has declined over the past few decades. Since 1960s, the population of the United States increased by 66% and the private sector workforce increased by 131%. Similarly, the size of State and Local government increased by 127%. However, the size of Federal government increased by 9% only. Hence, it is concluded that size of the federal bureaucracy has not kept pace with the increasing demands on government.

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