November 4, 2011 3:56PM 

# 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 past week:

- Dan Mitchell says that [sequestration](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/sequestration-small-step-right-direction) would be a small step in the right direction.
- The Senate vote on [rural development subsidies](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/senate-spares-rural-development-subsidies) symbolizes just how unserious most policymakers are when it comes to making specific spending cuts.
- Republican hypocrisy on [energy subsidies](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/gop-hypocrisy-energy-subsidies).
- [Government cost overruns](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/more-government-cost-overruns): One reason to shift infrastructure financing to the private sector is that governments and their contractors often give taxpayers the shaft.
- The [Military-Industrial Complex](http://www.downsizinggovernment.org/pentagon-and-jobs) yells “jobs!” in a crowded federal budget.

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##### Related Tags 

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

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