Life — October 1932 — page 6: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

# Analysis This is a **Metropolitan Life Insurance Company advertisement** using political satire to argue against government spending growth. The page depicts three stylized figures labeled "TAX" progressively burdening taxpayers, illustrating how taxation has grown. The accompanying bar chart shows government expenditures increased 475% between 1913-1931, while population grew only 29%—the core argument: government is expanding far faster than necessary. The text argues that all government spending ultimately comes from citizens through direct or indirect taxation, and that only democratic representatives can control this spending. The piece criticizes the disproportionate growth of Federal, State, and Municipal expenditures. This reflects **1930s conservative opposition to New Deal expansion**, presenting government growth as an excessive burden on ordinary Americans' income.