30% Waste Claim in Viral 'Candy Tax' Lesson Fuels Debate on Government Spending

Houston, TX – Brandon Avedikian, a commercial real estate entrepreneur, recently shared a Halloween anecdote on social media detailing a "candy tax" lesson administered to his children, which quickly garnered widespread attention. The tweet, posted on November 1, 2025, outlined a system designed to teach his kids about taxation, but critically, it included a controversial element of inefficiency that resonated with public discourse on government spending and fiscal responsibility. Avedikian's professional background as the founder of Aspire Commercial lends a business-minded perspective to his commentary.

Avedikian described a progressive taxation scheme applied to his children's hard-earned Halloween candy. According to his tweet, he took "1 of the first 10 pieces they earn, 3 of the next 10, and 5 of every 10 pieces thereafter." This tiered approach was intended to illustrate how different income brackets might face varying tax rates in a real-world scenario, reflecting a common critique of progressive tax structures.

The most contentious part of the lesson involved the fate of the collected candy. Avedikian explicitly stated, "I then throw 30% of the candy I take straight into the trash can. They need to understand that I am not going to use what I took efficiently." This act prompted his five-year-old to question, "Daddy, why would you take candy I worked so hard to earn, only to turn around and completely waste 30% of what you took?" His response, "I do it because I can. And the sooner she accepts it, the better," underscored a critical perspective on power and resource allocation.

The "candy tax" analogy is a well-known pedagogical tool often employed by parents and educators to simplify complex economic concepts for children. It serves as a relatable entry point into discussions about earning, sharing, and the societal implications of taxation. However, Avedikian's inclusion of the 30% waste and his blunt reasoning added a layer of political commentary to the traditional lesson, drawing parallels to arguments about government inefficiency.

While a precise, universally agreed-upon official statistic for overall government waste at 30% is often debated, the claim of significant waste in public spending is a recurring theme in public discourse. Surveys, such as one by the Cato Institute, indicate that Americans often estimate a much higher percentage, with some suggesting that 59 cents of every dollar spent by the federal government is wasted. Analogies like Avedikian's serve to crystallize these abstract concepts into tangible, relatable scenarios for a broader audience, fueling ongoing discussions regarding economic education and public perception of fiscal responsibility.