[PrincessB]

I know this only talks about tax dollars, but what is the overall effect on the economy?

I work with some one who is recently divorced. She had to take off a lot of time for lawyers meetings, depositions, court dates, not to mention the personal time used during the day to make phone calls, fax things, etc.

There were no minor children involved in this case. How much productive time is lost dealing with all this stuff? And when there are children I understand it can go on for years.

I do not mean to advocate simpler divorce, but another measure that demonstrates the negative effect of a divorce on everyone.

[RogerFGay]

"I know this only talks about tax dollars, but what is the overall effect on the economy?"

I was thinking about the same thing yesterday after reading a related article that cited the same $112 billion. Government is not intruding arbitrarily, not only into business activities and practices, but also into personal life. The result is very costly, and it's not counted in government costs. I don't know how to estimate very accurately, but off the top of my head, I'd say the current level of unnecessary intrusion for the sake of pork barreling must be costing at least a trillion annually.

[RogerFGay]

Instead of government “not” intruding arbitrarily, I meant “now.” Government is “now” intruding arbitrarily. They definitely are engaged in arbitrary intrusion into personal life.