All we see today are people advocating government cuts. But government programs - social security, medicare, free and reduced lunch program - do a lot of good. And these programs are often very cost-effective.
Example: The Free and Reduced Lunch program provides breakfast and lunch to more than 30 million children from low-income families each day. The program cost $9.3 billion in 2008.
So, here's some rough math: Divide $9.3 billion by 300 million total U.S. residents. That's $31. Divide $9.3 billion by 140 million federal taxpayers and the result is $66.
Free and Reduced Lunch Program Fact Sheet
Now, here's the deal:
Price transparency and value are all the buzz in advertising these days.
Walmart buys ad after ad describing how the stores save families money. They name real dollar amounts.
Walmart Ad Link
McDonald's sends up commercial after commercial extolling the virtues of the $1 McDouble and other dollar menu items.
McDonald's Dollar Menu Commercial
These commercials work because they are down-to-earth and practical. They allow the consumer to see what a good deal they are getting in specific dollar amounts.
Why don't the Democrats run a commercial showing kids eating free and reduced lunches with a punch line "You get all this for $31 per year?"
This could be done for all kinds of government services and programs that people depend on.
In most cases, government provides good service and good value. The country needs to know this.