[Low population density = less gov. As we import more immigrants and as our population has grown -we will need more Gov services- Some feel countries that have high population]
I think this belief is common but flawed. For example, public education should not be a federal issue. I think it is a good idea but should be govenered by the states. Just because there are more citizens does not mean we should have the federal government manage more programs to be invented. You can put welfare in the same category. Education and welfare issues are very different from state to state. How is it the government so efficiently manages the public school system in Mt. Pleasant, MI and in Los Angeles(sarc)? They are governed by the same body and system. The government should grow with the population, but I dissagree that it must also expand.
As for state government intervention, I believe states are more closely governed by the people. I also believe this country can afford "safety nets." Why is it constitutional for the government to tell business owners that have to dissallow patrons from smoking? Laws are passed at state levels. I can not figure out why it is illegal to drive without a seatbelt. Not that it is a bad thing, but this initiative should be driven by insurance companies and private organizations.
Our government, both state and federal, is now in the business of governing our personal behavior, thereby exempting us of any responsibility of our own actions, thus making us reliant on a socialist government. Look at the example of outrage at the government for not doing more to protect humans from a hurricane. The constitution and laws outlined therein were meant to protect citizens rights. Today, activist groups find ways to connect unfavorable behavior to infringement of rights to get judges to rule and set precedents.
Example: Activists don't like guns. They repeatedly have sued gun manufactures and lobbied for laws by connecting victims of crime with a peice of machinery. In many places in the country, as you know, the law is, you cannot own a gun (D.C.). Is this to prevent folks from injuring or killing themselves and their children on accident? Or is it suppose to make criminals not have guns? It is a law to police behavior and is not protecting anyone's rights as framed in the Constitution.
In this way, our freedoms are being eroded. We are less responsible for our own well being and we keep sending the government more money to pass laws to protect us from ourselves. If you want to see where we are going, visit the Statue of Liberty and glean east across the atlantic. Europe is our future.