Republican Tim Pawlenty proposed a brand new economic policy today based upon the Internets. While giving a speech in Chicago, the former Minnesota governor touted a little thing he likes to call the “Google Test.”
Basically, if you can Google it, then the government should cut it.
"We can start by applying what I call 'The Google Test.' If you can find a good or service on the Internet, then the federal government probably doesn't need to be doing it," said Pawlenty. “The post office, the government printing office, Amtrak, Fannie and Freddie, were all built for a time in our country when the private sector did not adequately provide those products. That's no longer the case."
Mother Jones offered up a short list of good and services that would get killed if Pawlenty had his way: the military, police, fire departments, hospitals, schools, prisons, diplomats and food inspectors.
The list could go on and on...
Pawlenty also wants to cut the business tax rate and wipe out the capital gains tax, interest income tax, dividend tax and the estate tax.