Just along the lines Bruno brought up, in just about every case the reason Govt expanded was to deal either with issues the citizens demanded they deal with or to deal with private industries that took advantage of no regulation and put profit ahead of all else. Look at the Govt back in the 1800s when it was small, very small and you will find Govt didn't expand because some bureaucratic was a megalomaniac and just wanted Govt to increase in size.

To me this is all a manufactured issue anyway. When you talk to people about Govt they recite the talking points like a parrot but when you bring up things that affect them directly and specifically they want Govt to be big and bigger.

As far as gas prices go what do you want Govt to do? The prices are mostly driven by investors and speculators and much is outside the U.S Do you want the Govt to set gas prices or tell wholesalers or retailers what they can charge? Now that is big intrusive Govt.