Not debating their perfection, but rather the result of non-interventionist policy. I.M.O. it is our National greatness that allows for personal greatness.
I think this is a case were it is a zero-sum game. There’s a great quote about Kaiser Whilhelm that expresses this idea. Essentially, to achieve ‘nation greatness’ or ‘world leadership’ we have to make comprimises domestically so that the sphere for individual greatness decreases. Surely the increase in the size of the nanny state and reduction in personal responsibility is evidence of this.