Do you really think with Obama in power,that all of this spending is going to stop anytime soon?

Than the best way to stop all of this waste is to let american people keep the money they earn, and to let them spend it themselves how they need.  People should not be paying 30-50% of their income through various taxations. We are adults we should be able to stand on our on two feet or fall by trying. Government needs to take a step back from running our lives.

Government spending on welfare, national healthcare, state-run education and so on DIRECTLY BENEFITS YOU. That is what people who argue along your lines don't recognise. Having 99% of the population healthy and well educated and not living on the street helps you in hundreds of ways - improving the economy, lowering emergency medical care costs that would have to be paid by the state anyway, reducing crime, reducing paranormal beliefs and religious fundamentalism among the population...

It's just that it's not being spent and guided well, not that these services shouldn't be state run. By excluding the poor people from a number of services because they can't afford to pay it from the "money they earn" alone, you are creating social and economic problems that will cost you directly many times over the cost of welfare.

I agree it would benefit me to have healthy, happy neighbors, but  i disagree on the best way to do it. I personaly believe people can take care of themselves, and letting people take care of themselves and teach their offspring how to care for themselves is better than letting the government do it. Look at how helath and education have declined as more government invovlment has come. By not forcing people to do what they have to to survive we are dragging all of america down to the lowest common denominator instead of bringing it up. Telling me and other adults we cannot take care of our selves (which is what having government parent us means) is not good. It is a bad sign that america needs change.

Yes, and that change is more government involvement. Look at Europe (I live in the UK). We have great state medical systems that achieve health for more people than you with vastly less money per person. We have good state education systems that mean anyone capable is able to do the highest qualifications they can [regardless of income, unlike the US] and our minimum high school literacy/numeracy standards are higher than your High School Certificate. With about the same cost per person.

If your arguing people cannot earn eough at the jobs out there well that is a different beast and there are different ways to tackle it.

And those who can't work? Disabled, elderly and those with astronomic medical bills even a job couldn't afford? How would your society help them?

Perhaps with their added funds their friends and family can give a helping hand. I am not heartless or stupind. Do you think people have no heart? If your mother/brother/sister/son is sick would you not help them? 

OK. I don't believe it will work, but I accept your viewpoint.

I personaly believe in the long run a society that values hard work wil be able to overcome more problems and advance farther than a society that rewards not working, or taking someones hard earned money. America got pretty far with out all of these prgrams, and the states that have the most of them (california) are worse offf than those with the least of them (texas)

When I lived in Texas for three years, the huge disparity between the wealthy white people who lived in the south of town and the poor black people with burnt out cars on their lawns and high crime rates in the north was worse than anything I've seen in any other US state or EU country. Texas as a whole may be prosperous but the racism and inequality are deplorable.

People have always had disabilities and grown old, they have survived this long with out all of this some how I think they will find a way.

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Edit: As someone who grew up fairly poor in the US I can tell you we all have access to eucation. I know of no one who wanted to go to school who could not. We have community colleges, trade schools, and universities. But at the same time not everyone should go to school for four years. In my profffesion it would not help me at all.

Oh, everyone gets to go to high school. I went to a US elementary school and the schoolwork was at a much lower level for the age than the UK, plus they refused to teach evolution or world history (preferring only Texan history and causing every kid in my class to never talk to me again as I didn't believe in God. I had to pull out and be homeschooled shortly after).

Sure, not every job needs university. But there are plenty of US people who are good enough to go to the very best universities and cannot afford it. That is not right. At the same time, money increases your chances of going to the top institutions.

Whereas I applied from an average state school to Cambridge and my fees are low, the same as any other college/uni, and ALL those who need financial help recieve it. Much better, since universal education benefits everyone.

Correct me if I'm wrong,but in the UK don't you get taxed on just about everything

Yes. Taxes are high. Government service provision is also high.

and I heard the cost of living is much higher.

Mostly because the US is a big enough market to sustain its own manufacturing and corporate infrastructure, and few consumer rights. Thus mass-produced consumer goods are cheap. Almost everything here of that nature has import duties, consumer rights and safety provisions, and high retail markup. It's US companies that provide most of the products too, and they sell cheaper in their home market for some reason.

I heard about the problems on your great medical system.

There are problems, yes. But anyone who is sick can get treated in reasonable time at no cost. That is worth a great deal.

I agree that your education standards are much higher. I just believe more goverment is'nt the answer. I don't want to have to rely on big daddy goverment to take care of me. It's all about being responsible for yourself. I agree,that the goverment should help people that really need it,but it should be on a limited and temporary basis. lol

I don't trust government either. I just believe there are some services it can provide better and cheaper because they benefit the nation as a whole and couldn't be provided in a competitive market well (would end up as a private monopoly).