Why is it easy for politicians to demonize government spending?

It's easy to demonize government spending because most people have a limited understanding of what government agencies actually do. The public often has a vague sense that their tax money is being wasted, but they lack specific knowledge about programs like foreign aid. This disconnect allows politicians to take advantage by claiming they've found waste, fraud, and abuse without providing proof. Politicians capitalize on this knowledge gap by making unsubstantiated claims about government inefficiency and putting out lists of supposed cuts without evidence. This resonates with taxpayers who don't have clear visibility into government operations and services, making them receptive to messages about eliminating perceived waste in government spending.