Government Intervention - Remedy or the Reason?

The current financial crisis in America is 'exhibit A' in the deliberation over whether or not government should be involved in the market place. Our government has grown from a weak central government charged mainly with defense of our homeland and our individual rights, into a ugly, inefficient behemoth trying to control all areas of our lives. At the turn of the century (20th) our federal government operated on a budget of close to $1 million. Now it siphons off more than two trillion from a productive economy in an effort to control everyone and everything while seeking to eliminate poverty, a task which even Jesus indicated cannot be done ("For you always have the poor with you", Matt 26:11).

Government dabbling in social engineering has created a huge welfare society that destroys families and keeps the poor and uneducated subservient to Uncle Sam. Do I think that we should simply ignore the poor and less fortunate in our society? No, this would be unethical and go against the commandments of my religion. Do I think that the government should be burdened with redistribution of wealth to those unable or unwilling to take care of themselves? Again my answer would be no. Prior to the intervention of Big Government in our lives the poor and less fortunate were ministered to by the churches and other non-profit organizations, and they did so with very little overhead and much volunteer help.

If the folks in Washington, D.C. really want to help the poor why don't they create a tax policy that offers more of a benefit to those that donate to charity? The American people have traditionally been a very giving people, if we capitalize on this by making it mutually beneficial to both the giver and the recipient we can meet these needs without unnecessary interference from Washington. I believe most reputable charities operate more efficiently than the government (remember the wonderful success of Social Security and Medicare not to mention $150 toilet seats and such), and it also take away some of the control the politicians have over our lives. Isn't this after all, one reason so many fled the old world for the new over the past 400 years?