Big government

Categories: Pejorative political terms

Big government is a pejorative term generally used by political conservatives or advocates of laissez-faire to describe the government of their country as excessively large or inefficient, or as inappropriately involved in certain areas of public policy.

Commentators who use the term are typically concerned about government delivery of public-support programs, and government involvement in the formulation and implementation of laws and policies concerning civil rights, social justice and social welfare.

On the other hand, such commentators are often supportive of capital punishment, public sector subsidies for big business (see corporate welfare), stronger executive powers for government, a larger criminal justice system (particularly in terms of police and prisons), and a powerful military.

Some populist commentators combine criticism of "big government" with criticism of "big business," casting them as an alliance against the public. Others include "big labor," although this connection would be somewhat contrived in many countries, such as the United States, where organized labor often has distinctly populist goals.