← Home
The Ezra Klein Show · August 25, 2026 · 1h 17m 28s
This Is Why People Hate the Government
Annie Lowrey discusses her book 'The Time Tax' and the staggering hidden cost of government paperwork. Americans spend 12 billion hours a year on forms, worth $430 billion in lost time. She argues that while programs like Social Security and Medicare are efficient, those for the poor are deliberately punitive, and that this administrative burden is a regressive policy tool that drives distrust in government.
This summary was generated from show notes and public descriptions, not from a full transcript review. Details may contain inaccuracies.
Preview
•
While universal programs like Social Security and Medicare are simple to use, programs for the poor are often designed with cumbersome requirements that humiliate and deter applicants.
2 more ideas, 3 references & all timestamps
This episode is in its early-access window. The full breakdown unlocks free in about 70 hours — Pro members read everything the moment it lands.
Read it now with Pro$10/mo · founding $96/yr
Was this useful?