Replay the debates. All you have to do is listen to Romney’s words now. His first instinct is always to provide a solution to a problem from a stance of big powerful central government, instead of trying to get govt out of the way, limit it, and let the people solve problems and retain their freedom. That is the heart and core of socialism.
I seem to recall how most news anchors & debate moderators today will not accept any non-government policy based answer as an answer. They want to know how he will wield power not how he will not wield power.
You are of course right this breads not only statism but ultimately & inevitably socialism. The state is not the center of any civilization and certiantly not the center of the solution to every problem.