Steve answered before I could. They
do teach this philosophy in schools, (economics not a science), mostly by right-wing instructors such as Steve's.
You guys have not answered the question of how govt. actually "wastes" these dollars, where do they go?
And don't answer, "to buracreacy", no points for this answer.
This is what would be characterised as a "political answer", tell us where the $$ went. Guess if you have to.
The truth is that government spends $$ providing services, including the workers in the social security office, they are
administering social secutity, for chrisakes, you guys would not do well in my class.
And all of the $$ gets spent, I am sure of it.
The reason that economics is not a science is because one cannot isolate causalities and results, the best that economists can do is honestly evaluate trends and conditions and it will always be subjective to a degree. In a household or a business one can isolate all economic conditions and cost/benefits, but not globally. This does not mean that numbers do not exist, only that they can be manipulated. The Tiger multiplier is an example, truthfully his extra $20-30 million @ year in a taxless land would go mostly to entertainment lawyers and agents who would donate much of it to Democratic candidates, is that what you really want now?
(Tiger earns ~$78 million @ year in prize $$ + endorsements/use of his name).