Half a million dollars, more or less

In 1789, James Madison said:

"The seat of government is of great importance; if you consider the diffusion of wealth, that proceeds from this source. I presume that the expenditures which will take place, where the government will be established, by them who are immediately concerned in its administration, and by others who may resort to it, will not be less than a half a million of dollars a year."

Well son of a gun, Madison was right. To this very day, the expenditures of the federal government are not less than half a million dollars a year.