[quote=Turtle69]We must also never forget that government jobs are by definition non-productive jobs. They do not create wealth, they merely redistribute the wealth created by others.[/quote]

This hyperbole doesn’t help. I’ll give you a few examples of productive government jobs:

– The building of roads and rail, which the private sector depends on to move goods and services.

– Energy. Would Las Vegas even exist without the Hoover Dam? Would Southern California?

– The Military Industrial Complex. Guess how many private sector jobs and companies would disappear without our massive military spending?

All of the above create wealth. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for a balanced budget, but the idea that all government does is “re-distribute the wealth” doesn’t match up with the facts.