Interesting information. Nice chart!

Another way I think of "Big Government" is how much they control the populace. Several ways they do this are:

The War on Drugs

Big government controls which drugs are ok to take (even though some are quite harmful) and which drugs NOT to take (even though some are quite harmless).

Who Can Marry

Big government makes their way into bedrooms across the country and insinuates THEIR ideas of marriage upon the people there. If the people have different parts, the government allows them to marry. But if they have the same parts, the government doesn't allow a marriage.

Reproductive Rights

Big government also makes their way into wombs across the country and insinuates THEIR opinions upon the happenings there, when it should be a private matter between a woman and her God.

War on Terror

Not only does Big government control the people of THIS country, they are now spreading to other countries to control the people and governments there. They insinuate themselves into our lives under the guise of "Homeland Security" and infringe on the rights and freedoms of the people in the name of our safety.

Principals and Values

Big government tries to dictate its morals and values to me from what religion is "acceptable" to what constitutes a "family" to how my children should be educated to how I should show my patriotism.

These are all ideals of a Republican Government. At least the Republican government of late. I think a smaller government takes care of the people. It's there when the people need it. And a large government imposes on and controls the people. I think that's the big difference for me.

Originally posted by Open_Minded Skeptic
So based on these numbers, we can say that the Nixon administration did implement a relatively small government.

Then, starting with Ford and extending all the way through GHW Bush the size of government was relatively large, with the Reagan era particularly so.

I believe this increase in %of GDP going to 'government' in the Reagan administration coincides with the vast increase in military spending in that era. Don't forget the Gulf War brought to you during HW's administration.

Then starting in 1993 and extending to 2001, we see a declining trend in size of government, which coincides with the Clinton era.

Then the Clinton Administration closed bases and slashed military budgets, causing the % of GDP going to the military arm of government to decline, despite operations in Bosnia and Somalia.

Then in 2001 through 2007 we see the size go back up and hover around the 20% mark.

You guessed it: military spending back up. Plus, Homeland Security and all its financial implications, not to mention the projects we don't even know about that resulted from 9/11. Oh, and the war(s).

My conclusion, based on this measurement, is that the Republican party does not follow through on the claims that they will have a "smaller government".

But it appears to me that the "smaller government" claim by the Republican party is not supported by the numbers.

You are correct. Republicans only call themselves 'conservative' to get votes. They're just as big of wasters of cash as Democrats, if not worse. They just like to spend it on differnt things, as the poster above me has suggested. (Though I'm not really sure what an affinity for the 2nd ammendment has to do with fiscal responsibility.)

Of course there are a few who actually do stay true to conservative principles but for the most part, to use your idiom, Republicans aren't conservatives, they just play them on tv.