host: the last phone call for arthur brooks from san bernardino, california.caller: there is a problem with cause and effect, the result of why these things happen. i'm glad the argument has been changed from free-market and no regulation to now we need recognition that we need some regulation. host: your final thoughts? guest: thankfully, there have not been any economists who say to just get rid of all government, regulations. the conversation always moves back and forth. the idea that a free enterprise system with no regulation or government is not realistic. it is terrible that we would move away from the key thing to keep in mind, also. when we do not make a decision. when we take little crisis by little crisis, those things always break towards more redistribution. then we moved away from a system that 70% of americans say they want. host: thanks for coming on the "washington journal." we will talk with the editor of large of the "atlantic wire" next. >> in the headlines, bp said today it has spent $2 billion respond to the oil spill in the gulf, and wit

arthur brooks looks at their role of government in the fee

according to arthur brooks they do not want the government providing all these different social progress. can you just deal with the numbers that he's sites? guest: i can deal with those numbers easily. a hard thing is to deal with the fiscal numbers, those about what we really spend. those 7% of americans i do not think are being realistic. i think they have no idea about how the government is really spending their money -- those 70of americans, and what could be cut. there will be consequences that they do not realize. something else, i think --well, it is a little strong to say unpatriotic, but if you're going to be carrying on about the government is too big and should be shrunk, you have a civic responsibility to really understand what the government is spending money on, how the government works, and to have a realistic plan about how to do it. and i do not think that they do. host: the next phone call, from new hampshire, on the independent line. caller: i am one of the tea party members and i would like to respond to something you said a few minutes ago. about how the tea party i