Conservatives like to portray government as a welfare machine doling out benefits to the poor, some of whom are too lazy to work.  In reality, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, only about 12 percent of federal spending goes to individuals and families, most of whom are in dire need.  An increasing portion goes to corporate welfare….

The size of government isn’t the problem. That’s a canard used to hide the far larger problem.  The larger problem is that much of government is no longer working for the vast majority it’s intended to serve. It’s working instead for a small minority at the top.  If government were responding to the public’s interest instead of the moneyed interests, it would be smaller and more efficient.  But unless or until we can reverse the vicious cycle of big money getting political favors that makes big money even bigger, we can’t get the government we want and deserve.

– Robert Reich