Despite what the Republicans say, bigger government actually increases happiness and life satisfaction. Is that Ronald Reagan I hear spinning in his grave?

Courtesy of Tamu Times:  

Pundits who throw around the words “big government” usually point out the negatives of having too much government involvement in the economy, but a Texas A&M University researcher co-wrote a study that found government intervention – when done correctly – leads to more happiness and satisfaction in the lives of citizens. 

In their study “Assessing the Impact of the Size and Scope of Government on Human Well-Being,” professors of political science Alexander Pacek at Texas A&M, Patrick Flavin of Baylor University and Benjamin Radcliff, University of Notre Dame, studied 21 developed nations – free market, capitalist democracies including the U.S. – from 1981-2007, examining data from nearly 50,000 respondents collected by the World Values Survey. 

The researchers report that citizens of these countries find life more satisfying as the degree of government intervention in the economy increases. And the findings don’t change based on income, meaning that high- and low-income citizens find more “leftist” socioeconomic policies equally conducive to a more satisfying life. 

“We frame an argument that for all the blessings of free market capitalism and democracy, there are negative side effects such as market downturns, inequality and poverty, and these can create insecurities in citizens,” explains Pacek, an expert in how political determinants affect life satisfaction and happiness. “Our argument suggests that government intervention, done correctly, can improve life satisfaction by smoothing out these kinds of negative effects and consequences.”

Oh man is this going to make those on the Right lose their shit. 

However if you think about it, this is clearly accurate. And that is why today there are few Americans, despite their political affiliations, who would seriously suggest doing away with Medicare, Social Security, the FDA, the FAA, or any number of government agencies and programs that keep us safe or provide services that almost all of us will need eventually.

And that does not even include the military, possibly the biggest waste of tax dollars, which has now become as much a part of the image of America as the bald eagle and apple pie.