The role of government is to provide protection to citizens. That is why Arizona has decided to enforce the existing law to protect them from an invasion of drug smugglers and illegals.
“Zeitgeist, if the economy is as contrived as you see it, then the poor economic situation certainly warrants continued government support until the recovery is self sustaining.” These are your words not mine. I suppose if there were too many starving people that would completely destabilize the economy and in so doing undermine the government, but most of them do not pay Federal Income taxes and they certainly eat up services at a high rate.
You and I do not agree on the role of government and never will. You see it as a replacement for your mother and I see it as a father figure and never the twain shall meet.