(Not so) temporary government programs

"There is nothing as permanent as a temporary government program," observed Milton Friendman.

For example: The 3% federal excise tax on telephone service was first imposed in 1898 to pay for the Spanish-American War. It was considered a "luxury tax" because at the time only the extremely rich had telephones. Dick Armey once said, when advocating for the abolition of the tax, "I've spoken to the Spanish ambassador, they're not coming back."