I want to buy 535 more copies of this book. One for every member of Congress. Rep. Feeney and Sen. Coburn can send their copies back signed if they wish. Santorum and every Democrat need to read and submit to me a 5-page book report, self-written, on their reaction to how they are slowly poisoning this country. If only I had $8,362.05. Joel Miller's Size Matters is essential reading for taxpayers.

First, for a book called Size Matters, it is a small volume. However, within its 200+ pages, it manages to go beyond the traditional arguments against Big Government, and explain how exactly how it affects the average American everyday. He roots it all to the Pursuit of Happiness, the most oft-neglected segment of Jefferson's "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness." While the Happiness was written off as 'property' in my high school history classes, but Miller looks at it as a specific freedom. If your pursuit of happiness is infringed upon by the government, via regulation, taxes, and red-tape, what can we do? We can choose to fight, or we can simply accept it. Acceptance seems to be the current mentality.

Miller, however, does not prescribe an easy solution. Since markets push back, and people are inclined to pursue happiness whether the government infringes upon it or not, not to mention the power lobbies in Washington, immediate, quick reform is unlikely. The best way to fight back, then, I imagine, is through extra-government sources. Private retirement plans. Wal-Mart. VOIP (not as regulated as regular phone service). Abandon the need for bureaucracy.

Highly recommended.

Posted by Ryan S. on Thursday, January 12, 2006 at 2:02 PM | Permalink |