Conservatives have long championed smaller government, and for good reason. Our Founding Fathers didn't want a bloated, overbearing government ruling the lives of citizens. They would be shocked to see what has happened to their beloved Constitution and governmental framework. I learned today of another prime example of a government gone mad. It's also a perfect illustration of the more serious threat to our liberty: regulations.

There's a difference between laws and regulations. Focusing on the Federal government, laws are passed by Congress and signed into law by the president. If you ever read a law passed by Congress these days, you'll need a law dictionary, and would still wonder what it actually means. They're often vague and open to interpretation. That's where regulations come in. Regulations are written by Washington bureaucrats at various federal and executive agencies. They aren't elected. We don't have any say in them like we do with Congress. The regulations are supposed to "carry out the intent" of Congress' laws.

It's these regulations that are killing business in this country. It's these regulations that are stealing our liberty. In 2009, the Federal Register (the official listing of federal regulations) ran 68,598 pages long. Think about that a second. Imagine how may regulations that represents. Are you sitting down? In 2011, the Federal Register broke records, running 82,415 pages. According to the Small Business Administration, a government agency itself, reports these regulations add $10,585 in costs per employee. What's that doing to the cost of things you, the consumer, purchase?

So what's the new regulation I learned of that inspired this post? It's part of the ADA law passed in 2010. As of March 15, 2012, all public swimming pools, wading pools, and spas must have either a permanent pool lift or a sloped entry to allow those with disabilities better access to the pool. The lift must be located in an area of the pool where the water level does not exceed 48". Pools with over 300 linear feet require two "accessible means of entry," with at least one of them being lift or sloped entry.

This regulation doesn't just effect public (read: government-owned) pools. It includes pools at hotels, resorts, the YMCA, etc. Imagine what it will cost businesses to enact this new regulation. Do you think they'll just eat that? No, it gets passed on to you, the consumer.

Join the growing chorus to stop governmental overreach. Demand a reigning in of these regulations. Demand a shuttering of many (perhaps most) of the federal agencies.