According to Americans for Tax Reform today, July 16, 2008, marks national Cost of Government Day:
On July 16, Americans mark the national Cost of Government Day (COGD), the date on the calendar year when the average American finishes paying off his or her share of federal, state and local spending, and the regulatory burden. Cost of Government Day falling on July 16 means that you had to work 197 days out of the year just to meet all the costs imposed by government. In other words, the total cost of government – far more than taxation alone – consumes 53.9 percent of national income.
Americans for Tax Reform also calculates Cost of Government Day by State. For each state, the number of days worked for the government is shown, ranging from 172 days for Alaska to 212 days for Connecticut. Kansas is state number 25 in these rankings, right in the middle. We work 192 days for government, meaning our freedom day was July 11, a few days ago.