[Thin_icE]

If the US can be an example for anything, it would be precisely why no welfare hurts its population. So, no, decline of the welfare state should never be seen as a good thing.

[eru]

What time in history are you talking about?

The contemporary US spends a lot on welfare. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_social_we... says it's about 30% of GDP.