Comment by swearwolf

I have a theory about this: the idea that, as Reagan put it, "The nine most terrifying words in the English Language are: I'm from the government, and I'm here to help" have become so deeply embedded in our national consciousness that almost nobody, on the left or right, really believes that the government can be a force for good anymore. Because it's so deeply embedded, I think it's become self fulfilling prophecy.