The most worrying part of all this is a growing sense, perhaps not even such a definite movement, that the US government / political class is no longer trustworthy with  it's citizens taxes.

Western governments are trapped by politcical stalemates and an underlying shift of economic power, and find they cannot / darent risk change in flawed fundamental policy no matter who is in power.  

no wonder many on HN support Apple in paying less tax, if you don't think the government will spend it wisely even of you vote for some other guy.

So Ron Paul starts to look like a clear thinker

But is there really an option.  Can we expect to do away with vast amounts of government and find it works better?

Because that is a one time experiment.