2. “Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”
In this quote from 1986, Reagan identifies the parasitic nature of government. The state does not create growth; it hinders success and places further obstacles for entrepreneurs to overcome. The government must seemingly always have a hand in the market. Whether taxing citizens in order to make them healthier or subsidizing certain industries so that they do not go out of business, meddlesome practices are always the norm when bureaucrats get involved in what should be private functions.
