I have seen similar “Europe/Asia is smarter and better than the U.S” articles. The statistics often quoted sound impressive, but they rarely take into account the diversity of populations within U.S. jurisdictions, and their freedom of choice.

When we look at the United States, not only are there the obvious populations within the 50 states, but also the Indian nations, the territories and trusts(Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Island, the Oceanic Islands) and the illegal aliens which comprise 8% of the total population. This level of diversity and ratios is unmatched in scope, cultures, and desire to be visible to any European or Asian nation. In most other nations, there is a dominant ethnic group and a very few others comprising a minority which does not skewer the statistics. The U.S. does not have a majority ethnic group - “Caucasian” is comprised of many ethic groups which happen to share a pigmentation - so the factoring of all genetic, cultural and societal factors of all of the ethnic groups comprising “Americans“ against what is often a mono-ethnic society is statistical gamesmanship.

If we were to compare what can be considered as “middle class” in each country, we’d find that within the U.S. there is: 1) greater percentage (quite sizeable) which own their own home; 2) greater percentage with more-than-one car; 3) more creature comforts (central air conditioning, etc): 4) greater access to information and entertainment (e.g., many countries license television receivers).

We could make all sorts of similar comparisons, but the bottom line is this: The U.S. from its conception is based upon civil liberties for the masses, and government intervention upon these civil liberties shall be at a minimum. Most European countries are either still monarchies or are basically conversions which places regal authority into a form of parliament, in essence keeping the same “governmental” level of control over the populace and dispensing degrees of civil liberties when the government sees fit. Add to this a general mindset differential between the average American and the nationals of other countries - we see government as our servant, versus how others perceive themselves as subjects of the government.

Our Bill of Rights still brings peoples from around this planet to come to the U.S. even from the “enlightened” European world. Asian immigration to the U.S. continues to rise, despite all of the negativity regarding U.S. schools, health care, et cetera. That ability to have freedom of choice - for health care providers, schools, entertainment and everything else - beats all the “efficiencies” supposedly available to the masses “for their own good, of course” that a large government footprint can provide.

I may seem selfish about this, but I compare my lifestyle to several European and Asian friends who are or have been professional peers. My housing is better. I have better and more household vehicles. My access to health care (cost considered) is better. My access to radio, TV and Internet is not subject to governmental licensing. In addition, my tax liability is less.

In short, there is no free lunch. The more services that “government” becomes the dispenser, the greater the cost to the taxpayer and the fewer the choices (if any at all) the public - including the taxpayer - has, resulting in reduction in particular civil liberties until eventually the number of civil liberties is reduced to a scant few, if any at all.

So, if there is a desire to make government bigger, that brings with it a matching reduction in personal freedoms. It’s the old “for every action there is a corresponding opposite reaction.” Which freedoms are worth trading for ______? In my lifetime, I cannot remember a single time when government took control of anything and then ever released control whether things got better, remained the same, or worse.

For those who think bigger government is necessary - how big? When is it "big enough? Can it ever get too big?, and if so, how can you make it relinquish control? The only way I have ever seen government relinquish control or reduce in size/power has been by violent revolution. Hasn't once - the creation of this nation - been enough?