The opposite argument is rather popular as well: Conservatives work vigorously to make the government as expensive and inefficient as possible in order to get p

The opposite argument is rather popular as well: Conservatives work vigorously to make the government as expensive and inefficient as possible in order to get people to continue to vote them into office, by convincing citizens that government is the enemy and they are the solution. The worse the government, the more likely they are to be elected (Outside of an actual revolution occurring). I suspect both arguments give each side too much credit. This issue seems deeper than the partisan divide.