January 28, 2011 11:19AM 

# This Week in Government Failure 

By [Tad DeHaven](https://www.cato.org/people/tad-dehaven) 

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Over at [Downsizing Government](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/), we focused on the following issues this week:

- Republican conservatives in the House propose [spending cuts](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/gop-conservatives-propose-spending-cuts).
- Government [health care](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/government-health-care-1798) in 1798.
- The president’s decision to ignore the need for [Social Security reform](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/our-brave-leaders) brings to mind a song from *Monty Python and the Holy Grail*.
- Freezing [nondefense discretionary spending](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/nondefense-discretionary-spending-freezes) at the levels specified or implied by Republicans and Democrats is only a start toward needed reforms in the federal budget.
- The [U.S. Postal Service](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/usps-takes-another-shot-closing-outlets) needs to adjust to the times, but congressional meddling makes the task nearly impossible.

##### Related Tags 

[Tax and Budget Policy](https://www.cato.org/tax-budget-policy) 

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