"If government is the answer, it was a stupid…

“If government is the answer, it was a stupid question” is an anti-government saying that has been printed on many images. Authorship is unknown.

“If more government is the answer, then it must have been a stupid question” was printed in the House of Commons (Canada) Debates, Volume 4 (1985). “I’m sorry, but if government is the answer, it must have been a rather stupid question” was posted on the newsgroup sci.space.policy on July 16, 1998. “‘If more government is the answer, it must have been a really stupid question’ autor unknown” was posted in the newsgroup alt.politics.usa.republican on October 9, 2002.

“Quote of the day: ‘If Government is the answer, it was a stupid question’” was posted on Twitter by agnarchy.com on February 2, 2010. “IF GOVERNMENT IS THE ANSWER, IT WAS A STUPID QUESTION” (shown on an image) was posted on Twitter by Rob bell hood on April 23, 2014.

“‘If more government is the answer, then it was a really stupid question.’ ― Ronald Reagan” was posted on Twitter by Marine Sniper on November 5, 2012. “‘If more government is the answer, then it was a really stupid question.’ ― Ronald Reagan” was posted on Twitter by joe bond on November 6, 2012. U.S. politician Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) is often credited with the saying, but there is no evidence that he ever said it.

Google Books
House of Commons Debates, Volume 4
Canada. Parliament. House of Commons
1985
Pg. 6176:
If more government is the answer, then it must have been a stupid question.

Google Groups: sci.space.policy
NASA vs. the Starship Free Enterprise
Jonathan A Goff
Jul 16, 1998, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
I’m sorry, but if government is the answer, it must have been a rather stupid question.

Google Groups: alt.politics.usa.republican
Bush sez warwarwar - America sez whywhywhy
Pat Hines
Oct 9, 2002, 9:48:40 PM
(...)
“If more government is the answer, it must have been a really stupid question” autor unknown.

Twitter
Scott Goodger
@sgoodger
If the government is the answer, it must have been a really stupid question (via @dmeyer302) (via @deanlisenby)
8:09 AM · May 14, 2009·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Sharon
@WooHooYoo
RT @wino911: If government is the answer, it must have been a pretty stupid question. #ocra #tcot (via
@AlinskyDefeater
)|Priceless!
12:28 AM · Oct 27, 2009·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
agnarchy.com
@agnarchy
Quote of the day: “If Government is the answer, it was a stupid question.”
12:47 PM · Feb 2, 2010·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Marine Sniper
@SniperMarine
“If more government is the answer, then it was a really stupid question.”
― Ronald Reagan
7:23 PM · Nov 5, 2012·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
joe bond
@joebones265
“If more government is the answer, then it was a really stupid question.”
― Ronald Reagan
9:27 AM · Nov 6, 2012·Twitter Web Client

Twitter
Rob bell hood
@hartshornguy
If government is the answer,it was a stupid question. #tcot #tlot #makedclisten #teamninja
(“IF GOVERNMENT IS THE ANSWER, IT WAS A STUPID QUESTION” is also shown on an image.—ed.)
5:54 PM · Apr 23, 2014·Twitter Web Client

Google Books
Hamilton and the Law:
Reading Today’s Most Contentious Legal Issues through the Hit Musical
Edited by Lisa A. Tucker
Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press
2020
Pg. 53:
As Ronald Reagan, perhaps the modern political figure most identified with this constitutional story, once supposedly said, “If more government is the answer, then it was a really stupid question.

Twitter
MaxMouse
@0x6e6473
“If government is the answer, it must be a stupid question.”
1:33 PM · Sep 14, 2020·Twitter Web App