The era of huge government

Here are some interesting numbers. Reason Magazine, a libertarian periodical, offers up this data in evaluating the percentage growth or decline in the amount of federal spending during recent presidential administrations.

First Five Years, Percentage Changes in Real Discretionary Spending

LBJ: 25.2%
Nixon: -16.5%
Reagan: 11.9%
Clinton: -8.2%
Bush: 35.2%