Congratulations – you are now finally working for you!

From the Americans for Tax Reform: Cost of Government Day!

Cost of Government Day (COGD) is the date of the calendar year on which the average American worker has earned enough gross income to pay off his or her share of spending and regulatory burdens imposed by government on the federal, state and local levels.

Cost of Government Day 2008

Cost of Government Day for 2008 is July 16.  Working people must toil on average 197 days out of the year just to meet all costs imposed by government.  In other words, the cost of government consumes 53.9 percent of national income.

Cost of Government: Trends

Cost of Government Day falls four days later in 2008 than last year’s revised date of July 12.  In 2008, the average American will have to work an additional 17 days out of the year to pay off his or her cost of government compared to 2000, when the COGD was June 29.

In fact, since 1977, COGD has fallen later than July 16 in only four of those 32 years – in 1982 and 1983, and in 1992 and 1993.  The driving factor for this development is the fact that all components of the cost of government – federal spending, state and local spending, and regulation – are now increasing faster than national income.

This is why I do my part to slow the rate of increase of taxes (at least at the local level).  I find it just absolutely nuts to think that for most of us, government believes that it should have the "first fruits" of our labor – that it should come before our family’s needs.  

Is there a real reason that government should be financially treated better than your family members with your money?

(H/T: NRO)

For another take on this: Publius