Thanks, the last bit clarified the argument for me.
-Jon
Here’s another way to consider the “seen vs. unseen” argument.
You see a lot of people working as soldiers in the US military. Therefore, the government is “creating jobs” and “stimulating the economy”.
What you don’t see is all the useful work those people would be doing otherwise. Instead of building bombs, factories could be building cars. Instead of working as soldiers, those people could be working as teachers or working in factories. If I have to pay 50% of my income in taxes to support a war, then I don’t have the money to buy a new computer or new house.
Government cannot “stimulate the economy”. All the State accomplishes is that it moves wealth from one group of people from another group of people.
As another example, you see doctors working treating patients. However, the State has licensing requirements that restrict the supply of doctors. You don’t see a lot more people working as doctors and cheaper health care.
The evil of the State is concealed, because the negative effects are usually unseen. When the State “stimulates the economy”, it’s like going around breaking windows to create work for the glassmaker.