I came across this question while reading the All American Blogger this morning. Don Boudreaux of Café Hayek recently wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Times. In this letter, he asks, “So why do you not routinely describe government as "big government"? The menacing overtones of such a description are especially appropriate for the state because, unlike "big tobacco" and "big oil," government uses violence against persons who refuse to fund its budget and otherwise do its bidding.”
It’s an appropriate question and I’d like to see a response from the NYT but somehow I have a hunch that won’t happen. I would strongly encourage everyone to write their local paper and ask them that question.