David Thomas: “In addition to that, however, it seems to me that it is appropriate from time to time that we focus a little bit on the…”

“In addition to that, however, it seems to me that it is appropriate from time to time that we focus a little bit on the appropriate role of the Federal Government. What is the appropriate role of Government spending? I understand the pressures that come from wanting to do something about every problem, partly because we do want to do something about every problem, and partly because of the politics of it. Now we find ourselves getting more and more into the kind of setting, a kind of culture, if you please, where, as the Federal Government continues to grow, every issue that arises--at whatever the level--the first request is let us get the Federal Government involved; let us get some money from the Federal Government; let us get some programs from the Federal Government. So continuously we get larger. If you walk down the street and ask in general terms if you think the Federal Government ought to be larger, if you think it ought to be less large, if the issues ought to be considered more close to the people where they have more input at the State and local level, the answer is yes.”