[okaram]

The government hasn't recently grown in scope, in any meaningful way. Since the 1980's, the government as percent of GDP has stayed about the same 30-35% ... our taxes are lower and our 'welfare' is arguably lower than in the 80s, so if it was growth of government, you'd see it it correlated with that

I know it is cool to blame everything on the government, but ...

[matt_wulfeck]

a percentage of GDP is a fairly meaningless measurement.

We've entered into an era of unprecedented government surveillance and power. We have agencies such as the DEA, NSA, homeland security, etc that wield enormous power over the lives of Americans.

Also the welfare programs are significantly more pervasive now. You have subsidized farming, subsidized food, subsidized business, subsidized housing, a subsidized economy.

At this point, aren't we all just living off the hand of the federal government? Isn't that by design?

[tome]

> We've entered into an era of unprecedented government surveillance and power. We have agencies such as the DEA, NSA, homeland security, etc that wield enormous power over the lives of Americans.

You're claiming that people are less cooperative because the NSA is spying on them?

[matt_wulfeck]

I'm saying the power and reach of our government into our personal lives has reached an unprecedented level, contrary to what GP was suggesting.