“America lacked an effective state bureaucracy until the Progressive reforms of the early 20th century”
Actually, Alexander Hamilton created quite an effective bureaucracy and is still in use today.
I would argue that the decay is that “progressive” part.
The decay begins when govt gets into the business of your day to day life, beginning with charity.
[The decay begins when govt gets into the business of your day to day life, beginning with charity.]
The decay began when the church lost is savor.
MATTHEW 5:13
“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.