In response to Kathy Gyngell: Find out what being a conservative means, Nockian wrote:

The problem with pushing for ‘smaller’ government is that size is relative to the pragmatic mindset. There is no appetite for the Government to be reduced to protecting inalienable rights, so everything becomes a push/pull compromise – a piece of seemingly infinite elasticity, until it snaps.

I enjoyed Rand’s full speech, but really he is only touting fiscal responsibility and neither the politicians, businesses nor the public wish it. He should have told them to dismantle and delimit the Government to basic rights protection, instead of trying to cap spending.