On the recordApril 9, 1997
I want to say some last words on taxes. In 1947, the Federal budget represented 12 percent of the total economy in the United States. In other words, the Federal budget was 12 percent of GDP. We have expanded that. As politicians find that they are more likely to get elected and reelected if they make a bunch of promises to people, we have had too many promises, because what it takes to keep those promises is increasing taxes and increasing borrowing. Though young people today should be up in arms about what Congress is doing to their future, everybody should be looking at what they are paying in taxes at the local, State and national level. Look at payroll deductions. If we did not have automatic deductions on paychecks, the people of America would not stand for the kind of taxes they are paying to let somebody else decide how to spend their money when they could make a much better decision to help their family.
Source
govinfo.gov
