The US is culturally and constitutionally more robust against tyrannical government, but at the expense of undermining the possibility for effective government.

The US is culturally and constitutionally more robust against tyrannical government, but at the expense of undermining the possibility for effective government. This doesn't necessarily mean we can't have effective social services, though -- it's just that they would not be government agencies. Planned Parenthood, which often functions in the face of considerable government opposition, is a great example of an effective and dependable public service. So is the National Rifle Association, which is primarily concerned with maintaining ranges and training programs for police and military as well as civilian use. They aren't businesses but they aren't part of the government either. Huntington discusses the medieval structure as one of a "harmony of government and society". Perhaps in the US we are trying too hard to get our government to do things it was not meant to do. It doesn't mean there is nothing to do. Found a copy of Huntington's essay online: http://pscourses.ucsd.edu/ps200b/Huntington%20Political%20Modernization%20--America%20vs%20Europe.pdf http://pscourses.ucsd.edu/ps200b/Huntington%20Political%20Mo...