Such has been the tactic of governments through the ages when the desire for greater governmental power over the people infected the hearts of those governing, which seems to be most of the time. History should have taught us that the corrupting influence of a little power is only exceeded by that of greater power. It's like the answer the rich man gave: when asked how much wealth was enough, he responded "Just a little more." So it seems to be with power within governments, always there is the desire for just a little more.
One of the most used and abused clichés we find is the old standard: "We are here to help you," expressed in those words or similar phrases. I have found in those instances that it's usually the other way around, they want me to give up something of greater value for which they will return something of lesser value, or perhaps nothing at all.
It is a sad state of affairs when a people come to look to their government to supply that which they themselves should be providing.
This nation was founded on the premise that government should be limited to only those functions which were impractical for the people to perform either as states or in local communities or as individuals. Even the protection of personal liberties was to be the responsibility of a well-armed people's militia -- so states the Second Amendment to our Constitution. (Listening to our President speak and our media opine concerning gun legislation one would think the Second Amendment was all about hunting and sport shooting.)
Our Founding Fathers were well acquainted with the tendency of governments to become oppressive and tyrannical and they tried to give us a Constitution that would prevent that happening here. Their efforts were good but they were not perfect. The critical element they could not protect us from was ourselves. Their provisions required a well informed citizenry that would hold its elected officials accountable. Some of them wrote to the effect that the government they had established could only work for a moral and religious people who were willing to impose self-limitations and exercise self-imposed responsibilities. We seem to have become a people willing to do neither.
Of course the major problem we have is that we have, like ancient Israel before us, gone whoring after other gods. We have established our temples to the gods of gold and silver--we call them stock exchanges or casinos or lotteries. We have established our temples to the gods of pleasure--we call them stadiums, lounges and brothels. We have even set up altars within our homes where we worship the god of entertainment--we call them TV sets. Think I'm kidding? Ask your neighbor how many televised sermons he watches...then ask how many football, basketball, baseball games, wrestling matches, etc. he watches. We think nothing of paying $30.00 or $40.00 for stadium or theater tickets but can be heard saying, "All the preacher is interested in is money." Even those of us who call ourselves born-again-Christians often find the time we spend catering to the world's charms far exceeding the time we spend studying and meditating on God's word.
Yet, when the chips are down and troubles abound, on whom do we call? I remember the old adage I first heard as a youth during W.W.II, "There are no atheists in foxholes." Whether that's totally accurate or not only God knows, but I've never yet heard anyone call on the empty heaven for help.
But we will call on a government of failed policies to save us from the hobgoblins it has convinced us exist. We will follow, like sheep to the slaughter, leaders who have demonstrated their only interest is a self-serving craving for wealth and power. "For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall show signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect." Mark 13:22