[jampekka]

Probably not in 1800, but the post-war "big government" era from about 1950's to 1980's (depending on the area) was relatively idyllic in many places.

[WalterBright]

The government has gotten enormously bigger and more pervasive since then.

[jampekka]

Ok, if you say so.

[WalterBright]

Don't take my word for it. Just take a look at any chart of state/local/federal spending.

[chasd00]

in the US, prior to 2001 the department of homeland security (a signigicant portion of the government) did not even exist.

[WalterBright]

The Department of Education is another massive bureaucracy that is really hard to discern a benefit from.