Government Spending 101

From the Center on Budget Policy and Priorities:

While critics often decry “government spending,” it is important to look behind the rhetoric and determine whether the actual public services that government provides are valuable. To the extent that such services are worth paying for, the only way to do so is ultimately with tax revenue. Consequently, when thinking about the costs that taxes impose, it is essential to balance those costs against the benefits the nation receives from public services.