[Antoninus]

The government decides what is good as an essential function - that is what criminal and civil law do. The issue is the scope and content.

Exactly. The problem is not that the government decides, it's that we have corrupt scoundrels running our government. And THAT is because we as a nation have become corrupt.

If your culture is corrupt, your government will be corrupt no matter what form it takes.

[HerbieHoover]

The problem is not that the government decides, it's that we have corrupt scoundrels running our government.

Nonsense. There is no magical class of Philosopher Kings or Friends of the People or Pureblooded Aryans or New Soviet Men or anything else that will make Big Government "work" if only they take charge from the "corrupt" people currently in charge.