What is being proposed, IMHO, is the backdraft theory. Sometimes it is necessary to create another fire in order to put out the original her raging, wild, out-of-control fire. Of course, there are risks involved.
Like most here at FR, I believe in a smaller government. However, 40+ years of liberal laws and social baggage have created a snake-pit. In the long run, the costs of eliminating the tentacles, one by one, are higher -- much higher and with the risks (not to mention social/civil chaos) are increased - whereas a start-up overlay will have the effect of creating a bigger can to cage the worms.
This is good.
The average American voter doesn't want some scary, screaming loon to take a meat-ax to the Government. It doesn't matter how sound the argument is for doing so or how good the result will be. Do you remember how Mr. Newt was raked over the coals for his "wither on the vine" comment about Medicare? He wasn't even talking about reducing the program. He only wanted to foster a replacement for Medicare. He was talking about a gradual change over the course of years. People heard "wither in the vine" and freaked. They've grown up with Government taking care of them. BB loves them and they know it. It will takes years to convince them of the opposite. Nick's "shining city in a bowl" is one way to bring about that transformation.
It took years to get into that snake pit; it will take years to get out.