The federal government is doing a thousand things the Founders never gave it the power to do

James Madison (yes, that Madison) famously said (language updated from 1789)

“I can't find the article of the Constitution granting Congress the power to give tax dollars to people or groups they favor."

Next a smart modern economist:

“Yes, we need a federal government.  But today that government is doing thousands of things it has no business doing, and which the Founders did not give it the power to do.  And in doing those things it has plunged our nation into a staggering debt which makes government unable of doing things it *alone* can do--like national defense.  The government now performs that basic function poorly--because it spends far too much of our income on things which it has no business doing.  

Now: Imagine a federal government doing ONLY national defense, border security, the Post Office, Patent Office, Treasury, DOJ/FBI and federal courts.  And cut congressional salaries in half.  No pensions for members--they have too much power as it is.

At a stroke, the federal budget would plummet from six TRILLION a year to about $1.5 T. 

Of course now none of that seems possible, because congress (and some presidents) arrogated to themselves the power to do any damn thing they wanted, even if the Constitution didn't give it to 'em.  And now no one has the balls to roll it all back.

Like children playing with loaded handguns, they were stupid, but in their ignorance, thought they were smarter than our brilliant Founders.

How's that workin' out for ya, folks?  

Stupid Democrat: "Whu...we iz jus' FINE.  Chuck Schumer an' Hakeem an' AOC an' Eric Swalwell sed as long as we let duh Dems keep givin' pipo duh extra covid subsidies to pay fo' Obamacare ebryt'ing will be fine."

Ohhh absolutely, sparky.