March 18, 2011 5:07PM 

# This Week in Government Failure 

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

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

- Another good example of how well-intentioned policies invariably become corrupted as [Washington insiders and well-connected special interests](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/more-federal-contracting-corruption) game the system to their advantage.
- Spending growth capped at 3 percent versus [Sen. Corker’s plan to cap spending](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/federal-spending-cap-corker-vs-3) at a decreasing percentage of GDP.
- With all the [subsidies we have for mortgage finance](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/are-mortgages-cheaper-us), are mortgages actually cheaper in the United States?
- Members of Congress have introduced legislation to [bail out the U.S. Postal Service](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/bailout-coming-postal-service).
- [Local government officials](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/local-officials-fight-free-lunch) *really* like a free lunch, particularly when that lunch is paid for by federal taxpayers.

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##### Related Tags 

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

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