A sad but true tale. It's an almost law of nature. Government grows.
For all the genius of the system of republicanism with checks-and-balances restraint, spending marches on. I guess you could argue that US government spending has grown commensurate with the economy and it has post World War II. That spending though creates more and more institutions. Ah yes, the combined power of well-meaning politicians, deal-making, vote buying and money.
If anyone needs a reminder of the audacious planning ability of government go down to the DMV. You could read an entire Dan Brown book while waiting in line. Hell, in Miami they have lines to stand in other lines. I'm not kidding. What more do we want to turn over to this system?
There is definitely something that can be labelled conservatism in American politics but it has little to do with the size of government.
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