Sam Ewing on Government Nerve to Collect

Posted by admin on Saturday, August 23, 2014

Sam Ewing Money Quotation saying deficits are explained by the government choice not to inflame citizens by setting taxes too high. Sam Ewing said:
 

 

“The government deficit is the difference between the amount of money the government spends and the amount it has the nerve to collect” — Sam Ewing

 

 

In this quote, American journalist and author Sam Ewing seems to be offering a tongue-in-cheek definition of the government budget deficit. He suggests the deficit arises not just from a difference in spending versus revenue collection, but also from the government’s lack of “nerve” or political will to raise sufficient funds through taxation or other means.

Ewing appears to be implying the deficit could be lower if elected officials had more courage to collect more money from citizens in taxes to cover expenditures. The quote conveys Ewing’s view that the deficit is influenced not only by accounting factors, but also by the government’s reluctance or hesitation to generate greater tax revenue through unpopular revenue-raising measures.