Are governments stretchd too far?

Question

As a result of the incessant push towards Socialism, governments today are expected to provide more services than ever.

Whether it be welfare (both individual and corporate) or entitlements (think SS, Medicaid, and possibly UHC very soon), the push beginning in the 1930's for the government to provide for every aspect of life has begun to strain our governments, to the point of neglecting services that almost EVERYONE thinks should be provided, such as infrastructure and defense.

Should we expect more disasters such as the Minnesota bridge collapse and sending ill-equipped soliders to war in the future as the government is expected to provide more and more? Especially considering that our tax base is going to begin shrinking very soon (baby boomer retirement).

"The American people will never knowingly adopt Socialism. But under the name of 'liberalism' they will adopt every fragment of the Socialist program, until one day America will be a Socialist nation, without knowing how it happened." -- Norman Thomas, Socialist Party Presidential Candidate in 1940, 1944 and 1948, co-founder of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

And please don't justify this trend with something akin to: "But we have spent $500 billion in Iraq" or "Bush has increased the debt to $9 trillion".

1) I never said Republicans were innocent. They spend just as much, just on different things - "Democrats embrace Socialism openly, Republicans embrace Socialism hesitantly."
2) $9 trillion in debt pales in comparison to the $50-70 trillion unfunded Social Security and Medicaid liability (Estimated future expenditures minus estimated future collections)

Answer 1

You believe people WANT big government? LMAO

Government wants BIG government!

The only universal truth with ANY government that has EVER existed is governments GROW!

On the basis of these words our government was formed and these words are still consider true by our citizens. So to believe this push has anything to with anything other than the growth of government by those in government is a fallacy.

"Society is produced by our wants, and government by wickedness; the former promotes our happiness positively by uniting our affections, the latter negatively by restraining our vices. The one encourages intercourse, the other creates distinctions. The first is a patron, the last a punisher. Society in every state is a blessing, but government even in its best state is but a necessary evil." -Thomas Paine

Answer 2

Rather, people's patience is heavily tested and taxed !